[3][4] It became the most popular TV program in Central Asia, reportedly reaching 60 million homes in four countries: Russia, Uzbekistan, China and Kazakhstan.
[2] The show was funded by a British government program to transfer knowledge to countries in the former Soviet Union and to promote the transition to a market economy.
[5] It was conceived as an elaboration of an MPM radio soap opera in Russia, Dom Sem’ Pod’ezd Chetyre (Apartment 7, Entrance 4).
After joining, the Kazakhstanis were "trained in costumes, makeup, props, sound, production, lighting, directing, film editing, acting, assisting, and cost accounting".
Those who did not make the cut were often resentful, with at least one writer penning a scathing indictment of the production in a magazine, alleging corruption and incompetence.
The state instructed writers to stress issues like trading in Soviet passports for Kazakh ones, the virtues of moderate Islam, and the importance of moving the country's capital.
[5] A documentary entitled East of Eastenders, produced by independent filmmaker Jemma Jupp, followed the creation of the show and aired on BBC World and in the UK in July 1997.