Record low for Dot and co

EastEnders viewing figures have hit a record low.

11:01 20 May 2004

Viewing figures for hit BBC soap EastEnders have hit record lows.

Just 6.4 million people watched the show on Tuesday night, leaving one of the Beeb's flagship programmes languishing behind Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

EastEnders has been criticised recently for a string of weak storylines, while its star signing - Lesley Grantham, who returned as Dirty Den after a 14-year absence - has been grabbing the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

"The ratings are a massive blow and there are top-level meetings to discuss what can be done," an insider told the Sun newspaper.

"A lot of BBC executives, including producer Louise Berridge, will be under a lot of pressure because of this."

A recent hour-long special of Emmerdale, which saw Robert Sugden accidentally shoot his dad, attracted 7.6 million viewers.