Yes, but...

...maybe Eastenders has never really showed the classic nuclear family. Maybe soap operas actually explore the tensions and problems within the family unit and thus expose the classic 2.4 model as an ideological construction, in a way that some other media forms don't. (The classic hero "fighting for his family" of some film genres, for example - this sort of representation hides any meaningful exploration of the problems of the family structure. ) This is an important issue because politicians are often talking about "family values" as a way of justifying their policies. Lots to think about here...

Sean