Watts family
When "EastEnders" began in 1985, the soap focused primarily around the affairs of three families: the Beales, Fowlers, and Watts. However, much of the show's early success stemmed from the drama surrounding the Watts, especially the antics of Den, who as owners of the Queen Vic pub (the show's most prominent set) were usually in the limelight. This prominence, at a time when "EastEnders" was at its most prolific in terms of both the media and audience, meant the Watts became perhaps "EastEnders" most eminent family and the characters known even to those who did not watch the show. Such was their success that producers went ahead with an experimental episode format centring on just Den and Angie, during which Angie lied about having cancer; so successful was the airing that it has since been repeated, and the format expanded to include "three" and "four-handers" (between 3 and 4 characters). Such episodes are highly prestigious and feature only the most popular and prominent characters in the show; thus, all the Watts, aside from Vicki, have featured in such episodes.
Screening of soap operas in Australia
"Emmerdale" is a British soap opera that began airing on BBC UKTV in July 2006 from episode 4288. It currently airs at 6:20 pm EST each weeknight. In 2006,BBC UKTV Aust. were showing episodes four months behind the UK. "Emmerdale" is a six episodes a week series, but only five a week were being screened. Thus over a period of years since 2006, a time lag of episodes developed.From 16 October 2017 BBC UKTV Aust. commenced screening two episodes nighty from Monday to Friday, as a planned catch up,as episodes being aired in Australia at that time were 2 years behind the UK airings. As of January 2019 episodes being aired are from October 2017.