EastEnders opening titles to feature Olympic Park

The EastEnders opening titles have been updated to feature the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London.

The opening titles of EastEnders will feature the Olympic Park from the 1st January in the soaps New Year’s Day episode. The updating of the titles reflects the huge changes that have taken place in Stratford for the 2012 Olympics which London will host in the Summer. There had already been calls for the EastEnders opening titles to be updated to feature the Park and Olympic Stadium.

A spokesperson for EastEnders is quoted by BBC News as saying ‘As we say farewell to a legend of over 26 years we welcome in what will be a truly remarkable New Year in E20 by adding the Olympic Village into the opening title sequence’.

The New Year’s Day episode will mark the final appearance of actress Pam St Clement as Pat Evans, better known to viewers and fans as Pat Butcher. The actress announced her departure from the BBC One soap earlier this year prompting much debate in the press as to how the character would depart Walford. The actress has played the character for 26 years having joined the cast in 1986 just a year after its launch.

The opening titles for EastEnders were given their last major update in 2009 when a new “Google earth” style of look was introduced. At the same time the iconic theme tune was also updated with a new arrangement.