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Over the years that EastEnders has been running, the show often changes writers every few episodes meaning that there is a greater chance of Continuity errors occurring.

Character's Age/Date of Birth[]

Bobby Beale[]

Bobby Beale Birth Certificate

Bobby Beale's Birth Certificate

Bobby Beale was born in an episode dated 24 July 2003, but on his Birth Certificate list his Date of Birth as 22 July 2003, however, it is possible that the episode airing on the 24th was set on the 22nd, similarly to what occurred with Ollie Carter and Albie Watts.

Dot Branning Driving Licence

Dot Branning Driving License

Dot Branning[]

Dot's age in 2020 is 87, meaning she would have been born around 1933, but her driving license shows her birth year as 1938. Also in 2000, Dot said she was 64, thus meaning she was born in 1936. Dot also said she was 4 in 1940. Dot's coffin plaque list birth year 1936-2022 8th December 2022.

Nick Cotton[]

Nick was born in 1959 but Dot's backstory says she married Charlie at age 18 and fell pregnant with Nick a year later (so this would have been around 1952/1953). In 1985, Nick was said to be 33, but in 1989 he was 28.

Arthur Fowler[]

Arthur Fowler celebrated his 50th birthday in August 1993 and his 51st in August 1994. He said he was 40 in 1985 when he was made redundant which put year birth year at 1945. He gave his birthdate as 19 Aug 1943 in late 1995 when testifying in court. When he died in May 1996 he was said to be 52 and his headstone later said born 19.08.1943. Yet in August 2000 Pauline Fowler mentioned Arthur would have been 56 today, and in August 2002 Martin Fowler said he would be 58 today and in August 2004 Dot Branning said he would have been 60 today. This would have made Arthur's DOB as 19th August 1944.

In 12th June 2007, when Dot scattered Pauline's ashes at Arthur's grave, the original 19 August 1943 birthdate is shown, so from 2000 to 2004, the writers got his year of birth wrong when they said he would have been 60 in August 2004, 11 years after turning 50.

Gavin Sullivan[]

In 1990, Gavin was said to have been 17 in 1969, so born 1951/1952. Yet in 2015 he was in a gang with Den Watts, Eric Mitchell, Henry Hubbard and Ted Hills. A photo of the five men was taken in about 1965. Gavin looked about 19/20. This is backed up by the fact that after he died in March 2021, his funeral card said 1946-2021.

Shabnam Kazemi[]

Shabnam Kazemi's year of birth has always been correct, 1986, but the month has varied. In January 2015 she had a birthday but another time she had a birthday in May.

Nick Cotton[]

Nick Cotton was said to be 33 in April 1985, yet he was said to be 28 in 1989. In 2000, Dot said Nick would be 41 soon, meaning he was born in 1959. Yet in November 2000, Nick said he was 36. In 2001, Mark mentioned how Nick was almost 3 and a half years older than him. When Nick faked his death in 2014, the casket said 1959, making him 54 or 55.

Frank Butcher[]

In April 1999, Frank gave his age as 63 on his marriage certificate to Peggy Mitchell. This means he was born 27th March 1936. Yet later episodes say he was born 27th March 1940, and this is given on his coffin when he died. In August 2000 Frank said he was 60, not 64.

Lou Beale[]

Lou Beale was said to be born in August 1910 when she was buried in July 1988, but her headstone says she was 73 which would make her born in 1914 or 1915. Also in April 1985, Lou said she was 70, if she was born in 1910 she would be 75 in 1985. On the 25th of May 2023, Kathy Beale says she is a year older than Lou was when she died, meaning Lou would have been 72 at the time of her death so born in 1915 or 1916. Finally, in 1988, shortly after Lou died, Ethel Skinner said she "Was pushing 80", backing up the 1910 year of birth, not 1915.

Dr Legg[]

Harold Legg was said to be born in 1920, and in 1986 he said he was 21 in 1941. Yet he was once said to be 9 years old in 1936, which puts 1926 or 1927 as his year of birth. In 2018 he said he was 98.

Babe Smith[]

Babe Smith said she was 16 in 1962 so born c1945/1946, yet in 2015 she said she was about 14 in August 1963, thus born 1948/1949.

Pat Evans[]

Pat's DOB is established as 28th December 1942. She often said that in the summer of 1958 she was 16 when she met Frank Butcher. However if she was born in Dec 1942, she would have only been 15 in the summer of 1958, unless she meant she was almost 16. In 1989, Pat said she was 45, so born 28th December 1943 instead of 1942.

Jean Slater[]

Den Watts and Angela Watts Headstone

Dennis Watts and Angie Watts headstone.

Jean Slater's birth date is officially noted as 21st January 1958. However in 2019, her doctor said she was born 21st January 1963, 5 years later. In January 2023, Jean said her 60th birthday is coming up, confirming the 12th January 1963 date.

However in August 2011, Jean said that her deceased husband, Brian Slater, was seven years older than her. If he was born in 1962, Jean would have been born in 1969, making her only fourteen when she gave birth to Sean Slater.

Den Watts[]

Den Watts said his date of birth was 29th November 1947 when he went to prison Episode 376 (13 September 1988). Yet his gravestone said he was born 11th July 1946 on 6th July 1995. In August 2004 he was said to be 58.

Ethel Skinner[]

Ethel Skinner's birthdate was shown on January 2003 19th February 1919 died 7th September 2000. Her originally birth year was 1920 but it was altered to 1916 and for many years her birthday fall on 19th February. When Ethel came back to Walford to die in 2000,

Shirley Carter[]

Shirley Carter's birthdate has been 13th June 1962 or 2nd May 1963.

Kathy Beale[]

Kathy Beale's birth year has been changed from 1952 to 1951 to 1950, however, her birth date has consistently stayed the 11th of the May. Kathy said on the 16 June 1988 that she was fourteen twenty-two years ago, meaning she'd have been born in 1952. On the 2 November 1989, she told her boyfriend at the time, Laurie Bates, that she was 38, meaning her birth year would be 1951 but then on the 15 May 1990 she said she was 40, settling her birth year as 1950.

Donna Ludlow[]

Donna Ludlow's exact birthdate has never been mentioned but her birth year has changed as Kathy Beale's birth year has been changed. On the 16 June 1988, Kathy says she was raped when she was fourteen, twenty-two years ago, making Donna twenty-one years old, born in 1967. However, also in June 1988, Donna said she was 22 years old herself, thus born 1965/1966. When Kathy's birth year was changed to 1951, it would've meant Donna was born in 1966 but 1967 was still possible however Kathy's age was changed again to 1950, meaning Donna was most likely born in 1965, since Pete Beale was unaware of Donna until 1985 despite their relationship beginning in 1966.

Character's Date of Death[]

Hassan Osman's Headstone

Hassan_Osman's_Headstone

Hassan Osman[]

Hassan Osman's gravestone shows he died on 30 June 1985 but he actually died 20 June 1985.

Character's names[]

Kathy Beale[]

Kathy's full name was also originally 'Kathlene', shown on her medical card on the 8 October 1985. Her name was then changed to Katherine and was given the middle name 'Elizabeth', despite her saying on the 12 July 1988 that she didn't have one.

Bev Williams[]

During the first appearance of Cindy Beale's mother, she was known as 'Lucy Williams'. Lucy Beale was also named after her maternal grandmother, with her twin brother Peter Beale being named after his paternal grandfather. However when Cindy was reported to be deceased, she was then known to be called 'Bev Williams'.

Kat Slater[]

On 31 May 2018 Kat's passport stated that her full name was 'Kathlene Slater'. However despite this Kat has always been referred to as Kathleen Slater, including in credits in Redwater, meaning the passport was likely a mistake by the props department.

Billie Jackson[]

From Billie's first appearance in 1993 until 2004, Billie's name was spelt 'Billy Jackson'. However in 2009, when Billie's return was announced, it was also announced that his name would be changed to 'Billie Jackson', to avoid confusion with Billy Mitchell during the show's ending credits.

Phillip Mitchell[]

The grandfather of Phil, Grant and Sam Mitchell was originally known as 'Robert Mitchell', and this was revealed in 2006, but in 2007 Phil said he was named after his paternal grandfather meaning that his name would be 'Phillip Mitchell'. As well as this, he was also known as 'Harry Mitchell', stated on an official website.

Sandra Mitchell[]

The grandmother of Phil, Grant and Sam Mitchell was known as 'Sandra Mitchell' however as well as this, she was also known as 'Eva Mitchell', stated on an official website.

Stephen Mitchell[]

On an official website, the name of Billy Mitchell's father was spelt 'Steven Mitchell'. However when he appeared in a flashback episode on 5 September 2022, he was credited as 'Stephen Mitchell'.

General Backhistory Of Characters[]

Of course, not just ages, but the general backstories of some characters has been changed. Even when the show begun in 1985, within a year or two, some of the back histories were slightly changed or retconned. Here are some continuity errors, although I (Benny1982) have tried to come up with a few theories to explain the errors, see if you can agree with them.

The Beale/Fowler Family[]

In 1986, Lou said she was married to Albert for 42 years. Albert died in 1965, so this would make him and Lou married in 1923. But Lou was only born in 1915, as in 1985 she said she was 70. This would make her only 8 years old in 1923. Other refs say she wed Albert just a few years before the Second World War. Also in early 1988, Kenny said he was the eldest child of Lou, at the time Lou kept Maggie Flaherty (Nee Beale) secret, but in CivvyStreet, Kenny had two older brothers Harry Beale and Ronnie Beale.

The Mitchell Family[]

In February 1990, Phil and Grant arrived in Walford. They did not know anyone, and no one knew them. Although they did hint that they had briefly visited the area before, and Frank Butcher had a feeling he had seen Grant once before. In May 1990 when the alleged body of Den Watts was found in the canal, and it was reported, Phil and Grant had never heard of Den so they asked who he was and they were told he was the father of Sharon who works behind the bar at the Vic. Phil's brother wed Den's adoptive daughter Sharon in 1991, and Phil and Grant heard many tales of Den after that. Actually, Den was alive all along and returned in 2003. Den had no idea who the Mitchells were and had to ask Dot. He had never heard of Phil and Grant or their family. Yet in 2015, Gavin Sullivan said he grew up in Albert Square and hung around with Eric Mitchell who was Phil and Grant's father, and Den Watts. Gavin even showed a photo of himself in the 1960s with Eric and Den, along with Ted Hills and Henry Hubbard. If this was true, why in 2003 did Den not say "Eric Mitchell, I knew him" when he returned? In 2015, Vincent Hubbard said his dad knew Den, and Henry Hubbard knew Eric Mitchell, so this implies that Eric also knew Den through the Hubbard's.

Theory to explain the above continuity error: Den Watts may have known of Eric Mitchell in the 1960s but forgot who he was by 2003, just because he posed for a photo with Eric, does not mean he was a best friend, people can appear in photos with others whom they barely knew. Or, Eric may have known of Walford, and knew of Den Watts, but Den never met his family. Or Den was lying about not knowing the Mitchells when he returned in 2003, he had known Eric and for some reason pretended not to know the Mitchell's. Den Watts knew Ted Hills, this was established in the 1990s, so Den and Pete knew Ted Hills. Even though Den did not like Ted, again, they agreed to pose in a photo together circa 1965, shortly after, Den banished Ted from Walford for framing Pete. In 1995, Pauline Fowler said Pete almost went to prison because of Ted. In 1995, Ted Hills did not know Phil but never said he did not know his dad Eric Mitchell, how many people know your parents but not you, probably quite a few.

The Carter Family[]

On the 13 December 2018, while arguing with Stuart Highway, Linda Carter tells him that she has been with Mick Carter since she was 12 years old. However, on the 5 April 2022, Linda tells Janine Butcher, again while arguing, that she had been with Mick since she was 13 years old.

Theory to explain the above continuity error: During the argument with Janine, Linda was intoxicated with alcohol and had relapsed in the weeks/months prior to the fight. This means that Linda may have told Janine the wrong information about her and Mick's relationship from when they were a child and said they had been together since they were 13, instead of 12, which she had told Stuart Highway about while sober in their two-hander episode in December 2018.

Photo (6 February 2020)

George Palmer meets Peggy Mitchell[]

George Palmer mentions to Peggy Mitchell on 28 April 1997 "It's a year ago today that we first met" but George didn't make his first appearance until 4 June 1996, which is 37 days before 28 April 1997.

Kathy Beale knew the man who raped her[]

When talking about her rape at 14, Kathy Beale did not mention or seem to know her attacker's name for the first few years of the show and whilst at an interview for a job at the Samaritans on 11 November 1986, she tells them about the rape but describes the man as 'a total stranger'. However, in a conversation with Pat Evans on the 18 February 1997, she mentions the name Marcus Duffy and Pat appears to recognise it.

James Willmott-Brown hiring Kathy Beale[]

Kathy is seen on screen beginning work at The Dagmar on the 29th of March 1988, however, while testifying in court on the 27th of April 1989, Kathy is asked to confirm she started work there in October 1987, which she does.

Graham Foster's children[]

On 5 November 2004, Deirdre Foster approached Little Mo Mitchell and Freddie Mitchell and reveals that Graham Foster has two children, Ella and Rebecca, from his failed marriage who he never sees. However on 24 January 2005, Graham says to Billy Mitchell that he has one daughter and one son aside from Freddie. When Graham returns on 1 August 2023, he only mentions his daughters to Freddie, and it also appears that he has maintained contact with them throughout their life.

Photos[]

In Episode 6075 (6 February 2020) they retroactively edited an old promo photo to make it look as if Todd Carty had always portrayed Mark Fowler, retconning David Scarboro. They later did this with photos of Johnny Carter to retcon his recast.

Locations[]

Walford Police Station Location

Walford Police Station has been mentioned to be located in to different place a card from on Police Officer mentioned Victoria Square and another said High Street.

Other errors[]

Coronation Street[]

In 2010, Dot said she's a fan of the show, Coronation Street, stating she never misses it. This shows Coronation Street is not canon in the EastEnders universe.

On 2 November 2021, this is contradicted when Tiffany Butcher-Baker shows Whitney Dean a video of Maria Connor, a character from Coronation Street, campaigning to stop global warming.

Year 10 group chat members[]

On 30 January 2023, Lily Slater shows Jack Branning her phone, and the group chat is called “Walford year 10” despite Lily being year 8. Matty is also in the group despite being a year 7.

Lily wrong group chat

Maisie Jenkins' school uniform[]

Despite being in the same year as Lexi Pearce, Year 6, On 2 February 2023 Maisie Jenkins is seen wearing the Walford High School uniform.

Maisie Jenkins wrong uniform

See also[]

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