EastEnders theme tune

It is widely known for its dramatic use of sound, particularly the drums that begin at the end of an episode – which adds a sense of importance, suspense and drama to the cliff-hanger.

Several years later, in 1982, Osborne introduced May to television producer Gerard Glaister; consequently, May was commissioned to write the themes to Skorpion and Cold Warrior.

May met with Julia Smith and Tony Holland, who were developing a new soap opera for BBC One, then titled E8 (which was later renamed EastEnders).

"[8] He offered an attempt that conveyed everything about the East End that the producers wanted; "bells, whistles, hand-claps, sitars, steelpan and an underlying feel of being on a merry-go-round.

The tune is also doubled by a whistle, and there are two rhythmic permeations, a dotted quarter note-eighth note moving the music forward, and a two-quaver hand-clap on the fourth beat of every other bar.

Subsequent spin-offs Ricky & Bianca, Perfectly Frank and EastEnders: Slaters in Detention have used the softer guitar version.

2010 internet spin-off EastEnders: E20 features a new remix of the theme tune, which was chosen by producer Deborah Sathe, executive producer Diederick Santer, Simon May, director Michael Keillor and BBC Radio 1Xtra's DJ Ace from entries in a competition launched on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show.

[17] DJ Osymyso—known for remixing popular culture—produced a mashup version of the theme, which turned the infamous fight between Peggy Mitchell and Pat Butcher into a breakbeat dance track.

Bailey describes how depressing he finds the theme and imagines lyrics he feels are fitting: "Everyone is going to die/We're all gonna die/In a variety of different ways".

He then proceeds to supply an alternative version of the theme which he feels is more appropriate, embodying the multicultural nature of the East End of London by using mode, sitar and tabla.

In 2009, American alternative metal band Faith No More performed the theme tune at the Reading and Leeds Festivals.

In 1988, the tune had another set of lyrics added to produce a hymn called "Glory Be To God On High", which was performed on the BBC's Songs of Praise.

[22] The first full-length version of the theme was heard in the 3 October 1985 episode where Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully) tells Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) that she is pregnant with his unborn baby and the pair agree to keep the child's paternity secret.

[42] Occasionally, singular episodes of EastEnders have used a different theme tune for the closing credits, or the initial drum beats are missing or have been replaced by something else, or even lacked music entirely.

Used on Friday 10 April 1998 as Kathy Mitchell (Gillian Taylforth) leaves Albert Square behind for a new life in South Africa.

"Peggy's Theme" features on the album The Simon May Collection and was also released as an EP along with other EastEnders music including the song "Anyone Can Fall in Love".

[51][52] On 31 December 2011, it was announced May had reworked the show's theme tune for Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) final EastEnders episode.

[53] An EastEnders spokesperson told Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy, "It's only right that as we say goodbye to the iconic Pat Butcher we pay tribute to such a character with a wonderfully touching special theme tune.

A new version of the theme tune was commissioned for the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II and appearance of Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, broadcast on 2 June 2022.

Composer Simon May commented: "When EastEnders first appeared in 1985 it was such a great buzz walking down the street or being in a supermarket hearing people whistling or humming the theme.