“EastEnders” was composed by Simon May in 1986 for the show of the same name, appearing on the album Simon's Way. Leslie Osborne has a contractual composer credit, but did not contribute to the composition or recording.

The theme, which is written in the key of E-flat major, is largely based upon percussion instrument, strings and the piano. It is widely known for its dramatic use of sound, particularly the drums that begin at the end of an episode – which adds a sense of importance, suspense and drama to the cliffhanger. The theme has become widely recognised. A 2008 poll by PRS for Music cited it as the most recognisable piece of music in the UK, beating the National anthem “God Save the Queen”.