Soap similarities in stories/backstories.

[CAEF]

EastEnders and H&A both strikingly bought in a Grant Mitchell in Feb 1990. Two soaps both set and filmed thousands of miles apart.

Corrie and H&A had grumpy grocers called Alf.

Emmerdale and Neighbours had a Tom Merrick.

But also in backstories, both Pat from Emmerdale and Pat from EastEnders respectively had relationships in 1961 and 1964 with men who were only 16, when both Pat's were 3 years older.

Jack Sugden and Pete Beale, if you go by dates, became fathers for the first time in April 1962 (Pete), and November 1964 (Jack). Pete had just turned 17 and Jack was 17 that month. Yet in 1962, Pat Harris (later Butcher) was 19, and Pat Harker (Later Merrick and Sugden) was 20 in November 1964. So when Jackie and David were conceived (July 1961 and Feb 1964), Pete and Jack were recently turned 16 but dating women a few years older. Pat from Emmerdale was just over 3 years older than Jack and Pat from EastEnders was 2 and a half years older than Pete. Lucky Pete and Jack were legal, as if the writers had made it a year earlier, both Pat's could be classed as groomers.

It is like in Neighbours in 2017 it was revealed that Paul Robinson slept with 15 year old Kim Taylor in early 1985, just before the show began.

[roverman]

Easy to forget that Pete Beale was 6 years younger than the actor Peter Dean. Never looked the same age as his twin ha ha

[CAEF]

Not sure the writers check ages of characters in the backhistory years when referring to their ages during the shows run. Also Jack Sugden was aged down a bit, as he was originally meant to be born 1944, so same age as Pat Harker.

Pete and Pauline would be 79 next month as they were just a few weeks off 40 in Feb 1985. But as we know Pete did look the actors age in 1985.

Arthur Fowler looked at least 50 in 1985 not 41, as the actor was just coming up to 55 in Feb 1985.

[roverman]

Best thing they did for Pete was that new hairstyle in 1987. Took a few years off him.

[CAEF]

Not sure why but I preferred his original 1985-1987 hairstyle, the dark hair sideswept over his head.

[CAEF]

Also Emmerdale and EastEnders both had a unseen/rarely seen pub locally called The Feathers which was often mentioned by locals.

[CAEF]

Richard Hillman and Reiss Colwell, both arrived in similar fashion - turning up at a funeral of a relative.