Not in my opinion it wasn't. Emmerdale was much better during those years. So actually was Hollyoaks in 2007. And Holby City was also on top of its games during season 9 which aired in 2007.

As far as i'm concerned, 93-96 were EE at its best and head and shoulders above the supposed golden era of 2007-2010.

But we're all entitled to rate eras differently.

At the time it was the worst year the show had seen so was inevitably going to attract criticism. I still prefer it to half of Santer's reign and anything since

That wasn't the line. It was

"Get Den Watts - he'll be in the pub"

Or something to that effect.

Is 2007 to 2010 really considered a golden era? sure it was enjoyable but I wouldn't class it as iconic years. I think the last true iconic year the soap has had was 2005 even though the first three months were shakey to say the least.

For me its 1994 to 2002 that is my golden era even though 1997/8 had some weak points until Matthew Robinson came in, but I think a lot of it comes down to which era you grow up with. I think 94 to 02 were untouchable years for the show with so many classic and iconic moments created.

It was boring but not the worst. 2006, 2011 and 2012 were the worst and 2013 was even duller than 2004.

At least 2004 introduced some great characters (Chrissie, Jane, Stacey), and the stuff leading up to Janine's arrest was fab. On the other hand, it became clear that Den Watts' comeback had well and truly flopped, and the writing was on the wall for the Ferreiras after the kidneygate storyline was panned by viewers.

Louise Berridge got too much flak. She started off in late 2002 so well but more than anything I put most of her her problems down to things that were out of her control. Especially the cast absences which forced script rewrites.

2003-2006 were dreadful imo. I actually stopped watching the show, and it takes a lot for me to want to stop watching a soap. 2007-2011 were great years imo. 2012 was a bit shaky. 2013 wasn't awful. It was just boring. I would rather boring than awful. 2014 was sensational until the rape storyline. 2015 was all over the place. And 2016 has been an embarrassment.

2003 I think was worse than 2004.

I personnally think the worst year of the show was 2011. We had six months where Eddie Moon was the main character despite the fact he wasn't long term. It was a waste of time.

2007-2010 seem to be rated very highly by a lot of posters on here but it is possible that they are younger, viewers that haven't seen earlier years to compare it to.

For me, the best times have been the first 3 years, 93-96 and late 13- early 15.

Other periods have been good as well, but they are the 3 eras that stand out for me having watched all of it and been, not exactly grown up but certainly not a child when it started.