Eldorado - Episode 1

Episode 1 of Eldorado. BBC soap - this episode was broadcast on BBC1 on 6th July 1992
This a recording from that broadcast.
Episode 2 at • Eldorado - Episode 2
Episode 3 at • Eldorado - Episode 3

[@ntombimoyo9760]

This series was so loved in Zimbabwe...every day during lunchtime. Enjoyed it so much during the school holidays...don't know how many times they repeated it

[@miltonsakutukwa2409]

I used to watch it after school around 13:30 ot 14:00

[@laurencegladwell529]

It was that bad it was brilliant. Best soap opera ever

[@dementednun1175]

Yea but it was rushed I hate that

[@chrisuk1000]

I agree

[@likebigg]

Great soap completely different from everything that was on TV at the time

[@anthonybailey1966]

Best soap ever..... with the exception of every other soap....bar Albion Market!

[@davidglover9210]

Just watching it again.

[@anthonybayern1]

I have so many fond memories of this cheery, light-hearted soap which brought the sunshine into our lives every week. Yes it had its faults with sets and acting, as every soap does and believe me I have seen a few over the years. None of us are acting coaches or we would be on telly ourselves - wouldnt we? Trouble is, people are too quick to jump on the bandwagon to criticize because maybe, they see one episode or read some rubbish in the newspapers. These problems could have been ironed out in time, so was a shame it was pulled after only a year

[@stumagoo2395]

At least it had sunshine and that lovely Swede "Ingrid" who I recall having a crush on. BBC spent over £10 million building the set, most of the actors and crew were on 2 year paid contracts despite only working 1 year. Yentob pulled the plug prematurely and wasted a load of licence payers money by not giving it the second year which technically we'd already paid for.

[@elgamerico]

Nah, it was bad, but in a good way. The only reason we're all here watching it is because of nostalgia, and that's why we enjoy it. Saying that, it's not very well produced. The audio for the show is appalling and doesn't get any better.

[@phoenix52000]

I bloody loved it! And my love for Jessie Birdsall began here !

[@paullynton-green6570]

The lovely Patricia brake.so talented and versatile. Sadly missed.x

[@npc3po301]

Funny to hear her without that highpitched Golders Green Londoner accent she did in Porridge/Going Straight

[@Londonfogey]

I seem to recall reading in my local paper that a bus driver at the local garage got up a petition to save Eldorado and he was getting everyone who came on his bus to sign it. Obviously the BBC didn't pay much notice as they axed it anyway!

[@TheDEATHSTARIII]

ooooo Crocodile Dundee is after this

[@flyagaric23]

Best reflection of British culture ever, plus Eric Clapton's thrilling theme song. This is Television for the people.

[@andrewgilham4594]

Hahaha! I think this has gone over the heads of most people

[@DickCheeseman]

Better than BellEnders

[@asa1973100]

Back in the day I absolutely loved it ..

[@whoreforproffit.5404]

You sad git

[@scottishwildcat]

Ah, so you were the viewer.

[@zjesseccaxellis4028]

@Jonathon Roberts Eastenders is shit too but like fucking is this poor quality garbage better

[@bubbleboy02mathie49]

Same, I was gutted when they cancelled it.

[@listenhealthily]

Apparently David Bowie was addicted to this show.

[@richardthered]

@Dark Light Hahaha

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

He lived in NYC, so I highly doubt that.

[@stumagoo2395]

Had the BBC stuck to its original air date instead of bringing it forward 6 months before the set was even finished it might have started better. It was so rushed that most of the scenes didn't even get second takes as there was no time. After a few months it got better but the damage was done in first month and controller Alan Yentob was only interested in art productions and staying part of the BBC corporate gravy train... which he's still part of today.

[@brucedanton3669]

It was intended to start in the September 1992 but they brought it forward to the July then for some reason as far as I know of course so too?

[@cosmic687]

reminds me of childhood holidays in Europe with all the 90s luminous clothing etc lol

[@mariamarshall2192]

I loved this show

[@CIOZimbabwe]

Great series!

[@patrickmkiv]

This was a really good programme. It is a shame it was cancelled.

[@whoreforproffit.5404]

It looks absolutely shit.

[@tshelby5212]

It was absolute horse shite that's why it was cancelled

[@maratonlegendelenemirei3352]

@@tshelby5212 But horse shite in a good way. However not as shite as Albion Market.

[@angusmeigh5141]

@@whoreforproffit.5404 It was no worse than East Enders which has lasted for decades!

[@angusmeigh5141]

@@tshelby5212 But it had its fans!

[@lindabiggs3905]

I thought I was the only one who watched it,,

[@MohammedAli-tj7ti]

Loved this series, shame they cancelled

[@jasonstevens7926]

No wonder it got the boot. It's just a shame they don't have the sense today to axe Eastenders too.

[@veggie42]

And to think Jesse Birdsall has done other work since. He was a good actor. So are Polly,Patricia Julie Fernandez and a couple of others. I think I noticed the music was loud in the background should've been quieter and there was Europeans and they should've been holiday makers then could've written them out quicker and had characters tested see who had chemistry for potential affairs/relationships. Costa Del Crime worked. Spanish muse worked. Man with British child bride should've been Thai would've worked* wrong actress. Family with Scottish father, Blair was too wimpy and awkward but he had to be with his fiesty family to be easily led by Marcus to work. What didn't work was the show needed more time and better ideas.

[@philharry7213]

It started badly with some inexperienced actors and not enough rehearsal time,plus sound problems, however when new producers and script writers were brought in it improved a lot with decent story lines and did not deserve to be cancelled.

[@fifiluxesparkles5093]

Love this show

[@brucedanton3669]

Thank you for this of course-oh those memories so then too!

[@DeeJay003]

This is comedy gold mate

[@kengeorgejones6855]

Happy 30th, Eldorado.

[@bondbug73]

3:22 I've got one of those Philips AW7694 "TURBO BOOST" ghetto blasters. Belonged to my dad. Twin cassette. Graphic equaliser. And a push button on top for that TURBO sound when all five speakers activate.

[@vmm5163]

😁😁👍

[@jayrave4]

The acting is way better than current Eastenders standards.

[@colincrew1857]

Eastenders is a form of torture

[@markgaler1008]

How times have changed! This now looks sophisticated compared to most current British TV output! :). Eldorado rallied after a false dawn to be a competitive, well rated show that show have succeeded

[@-M0LE]

It was good in places but it’s reputation was bad

[@jamescarr4662]

Are you serious? Sophisticated? It was utterly appalling.

[@FamilyGuy770]

Everybody claims that Kai’s acting was bad but I think he did a pretty good job, especially for someone who’d never acted professionally before.

[@HobartBloke]

And rarely afterwards except in bit parts, though he trained at LAMDA. Years later, in 2006, he directed a feature film. It was never released.

[@x4dd]

Absolute brilliant 👍 God this takes me back to happy times. Life was sweet back then. Loved this soap. So sad when it got pulled 😭

[@amandeepv]

Kidding do you remember the recession

[@th8257]

I'm guessing you were a child and clueless about what was going on in the world - namely a massive recession, huge boom in crime and mass unemployment

[@ericstockdale3199]

Bring it back……..it should be repeated and I’m sure I’m not alone in that train of thought.

[@dealpianolucy]

I also like Neighbour, but not sure that others do??

[@dealpianolucy]

Subtitles??

[@mjglover4013]

Good memories. Thank you. Marcus was trying to be another Charles Frere. The doctor came from ‘Howard’s Way.’

[@stevemanser.]

The theme tune was liberally 'borrowed' from that show too by the sounds of it...

[@CryOfTheCelts2]

@@stevemanser. Same composer - Simon May

[@version736ha2]

Drew was consistently staying in bed late.Hungover and blowing off, going "oh noooo", in a Scottish accent.

[@iawarenow658]

brilliant fresh idea that was taken away all too soon..

[@markdoughty8780]

This show was easily as good as any other soap on TV at the time and I remember it being initially quite popular. My theory on why the plug was pulled on it is that most episodes were too close to the truth in regards to (the behaviour of) British ex-pats and (Britsh) holidaymakers! Thanks for the trip down memory lane...

[@Harry-fk5of]

The theme tune's the only good thing about it

[@dandeebelarific4663]

Like how silk knickers inject immediate sauce into the very beginning. Saw the first episode back then with mum. She was less than half impressed herself and gave up after a few episodes.

[@TRIGMASTER06]

Good old Drew- "i wouldnt mind giving her one "

[@blaxtru]

Makes Crossroads essential viewing.

[@Ellie-ym9et]

Wasn't it fab TV? I loved it!

[@stingray4real]

Eldorado was written by Tony Holland RIP .and June Smith of EasEnders.

[@brucedanton3669]

It was Julia Smith actually by the way, although I know what you mean there so then too!

[@prophetascending9021]

I proper rated Eldorado, and Pilar was fit as fuck.

[@timgreen1252]

@@lukeoz A constant battle in my mind in '92. Pilar or Trine (2nd)? She turned up in Enders a couple of years later. Like most of the cast.

[@johnedsel]

That horse riding scene was intense! Absolutely mesmerising 😮

[@jamesknapp4309]

Yeah mate, I had a massive crush on Pilar. She was incredible.

[@prophetascending9021]

@@jamesknapp4309 "Mah-kooss"...remember?

[@stephendines1936]

Marcus Tandy thought he owned the place.

[@rogb3199]

Jesse Birdsall was a legend in Anikka (1984). Said hi to him once in Hastings Old Town lol

[@beaniebaby1208]

I slept with him then found out he was married. Felt sick. He married cassandra from knly fool and horses in reallity

[@-M0LE]

This is bbc Scotland with the most English voiceover ever

[@Holygasoline]

I went to College with one of the Hindle brothers 😂

[@aaronjameslockwood2437]

I was at school when this episode was on BBC 1 at the time.

[@Bobis-cx7hj]

Fascinating

[@bushcraftandastronomer.3775]

I watched it and it was good but some characters weren't that good and it was a huge flop for BBC!!! Bring it back BBC!!!

[@jamesdurnford2755]

I wish they had done a dark story with the binoculars woman, she was asking for big trouble with Marcus

[@ebojfmdboojoh4023]

I don't get why people didn't like it. People loved Neighbours in the UK and that was far worse

[@RouXRenard]

Loved watching that again. Nothing so terrible here. I enjoyed getting to see the characters starting out. Still to meet Freddie, he was great. The show got better and better. By the end it was great, beating Brookside in the ratings, with about 10 million viewers. I loved it. I'm going to watch the whole run again.

[@plastique45]

You're fucking clueless, this is literally garbage.

[@CLLEON]

I also enjoyed it!

[@VictoryRRR]

I enjoyed it .....for it cured my insomina

[@andromedaone3640]

There was talk that channel 5 was going to revive it and bring back as many og cast as possible a few years back, i wonder what happened to that idea cost i bet such a shame it hasn't come back but who knows it may some day. 👍

[@lingonberriesofwrath1836]

The editing is insane. I can't follow the plot for shit.

[@gilhams]

Not helped by the audio problems meaning you can’t hear half of the dialogue.

[@ebojfmdboojoh4023]

@@gilhams I could hear it fine. The problem I had watching this was that there was far too much dialogue and too many characters.

[@listenhealthily]

Whoever did the casting for this series should have been given a knighthood or female equivalent.

[@joenest2122]

I wish Eddie Mair was still on Reporting Scotland. That way I would now be able to listen to LBC without wanting to smash my radio to pieces.

[@jasonburns4071]

Eddie's leaving LBC in August sometime. I think he's one of the best interviewers ever. He goes for politicians throats and rightly so.

[@whoreforproffit.5404]

This is proof that TV didn't just turn shit in the 2010's era.

[@TAYLOR13961]

Check Out Andy Pearman On KZbin Loads Classics TV SHOWS from British TV early PERIOD in the 1990s ERA

[@veggie42]

This deffo inspired Benidorm! just that if you do a show with British leading it why have Europeans also in Spain with few Spanish?

[@scotthawthorne3760]

I did watch it back in the day. Looking back at it now you can see it for the bad production it was through no fault of the cast. However some of the acting techniques could have been a bit more polished. But in all honesty toward the end when we all knew the BBC had pulled the plug on it already, it was getting a lot better. Possibly could have become a real ratings winner???? Such a shame. Is the set still standing ?

[@shawneaton9203]

The set is still standing apparently

[@scotthawthorne3760]

@@shawneaton9203 would love to go see it! I think as the license payers paid for it out their funding those money grabbers at the BBC should open it up for the public to see when on holiday in Spain. Or at least put it to good use for the homeless instead of letting it just stand and rot.

[@christopherbenson959]

The set is now used for paintballing.

[@stingray4real]

Eldorado is the only soap axed with a white elephant.

[@ajs41]

They didn't exactly spend a lot of money on the intro titles.

[@Potionette81]

The theme tune reminds me of Charlene's 'I've Never Been to Me' a little bit.

[@HarryMcTibbs]

Jennifer G yeah your tight, I've got that on vinyl

[@ajs41]

It has to be the worst intro ever in terms of the visuals. How could they go for such a cheap option?

[@stingray4real]

Did the BBC Production Team graduated from Crossroads School of Soaps? The best thing about Eldorado is Jesse Birdsall as Marcus.

[@stephaniemcquillan1930]

Only vaguely remember this. As I’m a life-long wheelchair user I do remember ‘Nessa’

[@stephenmcconnell1000]

If you freeze-frame at 2:02, you'll see that the very first shot shows the mascot for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics being kicked away. I suppose this was a deliberate metaphor to indicate that none of the storylines whatsoever would be seen to refer to the Games held in Spain that year.

[@misplacedkiwi9498]

Stephen O'Donnell OMG yeah! I never noticed that!

[@Xihymn]

@@misplacedkiwi9498 Javier took Ingrid to Barcelona to see the games...

[@stephenmcconnell1000]

@@Xihymn wasn't exactly a major storyline

[@Xihymn]

@@stephenmcconnell1000 No, it wasn't. (However, it was an occasion when a storyline 'would be seen to refer to the Games held in Spain that year'.) Either way, Eldorado is a timeless classic, whatever its popular reputation.

[@stephenmcconnell1000]

@@Xihymn I could change my comment to state that 'hardly any plotlines would be seen to refer to the Games that year' if that pleases you, but I can't be bothered.

[@mhoppy6639]

I love it. Preceded by wonderfully shite regional programming. I wonder if the A1 ever did get that upgrade.

[@davidostrowski679]

I was only 10 when this was on but I watched it religiously and it was really good in the latter stages

[@JimmyWin501]

It’s like The Room

[@stingray4real]

RIP Patricia Brake

[@vmm5163]

Yes, RIP. I just looked her up after stumbling on this episode and was sad to see she'd passed away only last year. I loved this soap

[@ShawnDeBarry]

The older guy in it with the moustache was gorgeous 😘😘💋💋💙💙

[@juliogs1087]

Maria Vega, "La Abuela" was my aunt :D

[@isamogr-c7723]

I loved it as a show. Such a pity its not re run

[@Loverboy19691]

This show as cancelled , I wish they would do the same to Eastenders.

[@GLBizzie]

Andrew Dexter Why? There are still people enjoying some depressions during an EE episode.. if you don‘t like it then tune out

[@whoreforproffit.5404]

Yet you watch Coronation street which is a pile of shit yet I'm not wanting the trash to be cancelled I just don't watch it.

[@whoreforproffit.5404]

@scf85 And so are we.

[@jackreacher.5323]

Who care what you want.

[@scotthawthorne3760]

Here here mate! That programme has long passed it's sell buy date! Full of idiots fighting over owning a back street boozer ( who would in today's climate????) And gangsters ,guns and drugs. . . . .the end. Boring crap!

[@cosmic4795]

This and Albion market 😂

[@victoriaharbach5968]

eldorado is sill on tv today but is rebrand it has the one show lol

[@stephaniemcquillan6167]

10:02 ATTENTION WHEELCHAIR USERS, don’t sit like that. That’s how you get scoliosis. Speaking from experience.

[@RouXRenard]

Ok. I expect she knew about that.

[@listenhealthily]

I used to have wet dreams about Nessa

[@liverush24]

I used to watch it, but I was under no illusion that it was any good.. Then, just as it started to improve, it was axed. It was rubbish, though. It was better than Albion Market & the rebooted Crossroads.

[@veggie42]

I agree. What should've happened was the European cast should've been guests as holiday makers and time share buyers* then easier to write out. .Make more British and Spanish the main cast instead. Benidorm worked with having characters come and go on holiday..They didn't live there! Expats is harder to achieve but it seemed to work, more emigrated to Spain since before the virus and Brexit

[@Merseysiderful]

The B.B.C. didn’t actually make this series as the end credits list two production companies.

[@NickSBailey]

Fair enough though the BBC are perfectly capable of making total rubbish by themselves as well. There are worse programmes than this in hindsight.

[@keithspottiswoode5594]

I wonder if it would have fared better being launched in the winter rather than the summer months…a bit of sunshine on cold dark winter’s night?….

[@misplacedkiwi9498]

Before living in Spain was blocked by gammon

[@samjewell728]

Was that Eddie Mair at the beginning?

[@invernessstuart9996]

Yes.....well spotted

[@gerrynicol3951]

Along with Jackie bird on reporting Scotland

[@mattbod]

The first episodes were awful but the guy Dieter got a of flak and I thought he was pretty good really: cheeky chappie. Kai Maurer who played him now runs a flying school near me: Gyro School at Rochester Airport. Go check him out if you fancy a lesson in a Gyrocopter.

[@anngulliver5964]

8:28 this is actually quite funny 😂

[@jordanlawley2833]

Not that bad really, I'd watch another. Because it's remembered as the most terrible soap ever, it kind of makes me like it more. I found this better than Albion Market. I also like the realism of the background noise and the set. The show had so much potential, it reminds me of Home & Away.

[@hugoboss5895]

They should have retooled it with lots of rich people and people that could act it would have stood a chance then

[@weirdnetwork]

Is that radio 4’s Eddie Mair at the beginning?

[@invernessstuart9996]

weirdnetwork yea...used to do the news in scotland for a couple of years

[@nigelrussel6542]

Really good to see the 1st episode of Eldorado, do you have any more episodes from episode 88 onwards?

[@invernessstuart9996]

Nigel Russel Sorry, i'd only taped the first 3 episodes 😐

[@stumagoo2395]

Nigel Russel All 156 episodes are on KZbin. Search for "all our yesterday's on two eldorado" on KZbin and you'll find them.

[@georgecurtis5371]

Been taken off sadly

[@maos3609]

No one will believe me but arnaud leducs actor is actually my dad

[@vmm5163]

Cool!! 👍

[@TheNewOriginals450]

It was described as "porn without the sex" at the time 😁.

[@shawneecherrypie4331]

Thank goodness they came to their senses and axed it. I wouldn't want to be forced to pay a TV license for this shite.

[@youtube-is-hopeless]

You have paid it for 35 years for East Enders and a crap Doctor Who rehash and Top Gear that should have been shot five years ago. Christ they make some crap.

[@natehilliscool1918]

@@youtube-is-hopeless And they used our money to fund an EastEnders replica set which costed £68 million no lie either. They BBC are a disgusting bunch.

[@igotboredbutcouldntthinkof8018]

wow, that old school graphic

[@johno4521]

Eldorado . Anagram = 'Real Dodo'

[@skylongskylong1982]

The days when BBC World Service was worth listening to. Today like the rest of the BBC it is WOKE !

[@BossySwan]

Absolute dross

[@nikreece6295]

What was worse?..Crossroads or Eldorado

[@retrocomputerkidkris]

crossroads

[@davidhodgson2025]

Albion market

[@scotthawthorne3760]

@@davidhodgson2025 lol. Yes forgot bout that show. See if ya can find the one with the fire and all the characters start running round like head less chickens after a puff of smoke ( supposed fire) and I swear to God!, One of the characters purposely punches another one in the mush! Lol watch it as it's so funny with atrocious acting to boot. It's worth a laugh. 😉

[@richardbarnett1647]

@@retrocomputerkidkris you are the creaters son arnt yiu

[@anngulliver5964]

Triangle

[@johndunnburgess6403]

is it true that the Jocks only get 5 TV channels in Scotland, that's what my friend Dave said, the weather, they should show the whole of the United Kingdom, never been to the north of England but I can imagine it rains a lot up there, Jocks and their drugs 😂😂😂

[@cosmic687]

do you know what, there's nothing wrong with a bit of shit tv.

[@DanBmthUK]

It’s an English Telenovela.

[@MSJChem]

2:55 Saucy!

[@volvos60bloke]

Ahh, rough Brits enjoying their freedom to live, work and travel elsewhere in the EU. Soon to come to an end and living elsewhere in the EU will become very difficult indeed! :D

[@lucaschapman2188]

I thought freedom of movement only started in 2004🙄

[@andy-tu2rx]

This is Ben Hur compared to that shite hollyoaks

[@chicoingles1]

My wife wears even bigger knickers than that!

[@PeterYeadon-js7ou]

I led a partition to the BBC regarding the end of Eldorado. Obviously didn't work! Watching Eldorado now it swiped the floor with EastEnders, Coronation Street and the laughable Emmerdale. The above soaps are very predictable, have no real characters, nor an interesting story line. They are just the same old, same old. Boring. Coronation Street in it's day had decent stories going on with very believable characters. EastEnders, very depressing, always has been. As for Emmerdale, well, farming......no, judging by the age group that views Emmerdale they mostly seem to be pensioners 😂😂😂😂. Perhaps rename Emmerdale, ViagraDale😅😂.