and creating a programme that was “more in touch” with the “real world” than it had been over the last year. Ferguson altered the way the episodes were produced, changed the way the storylines were conceptualised and introduced a far greater amount of location work than had previously been seen. As a consequence of these changes, a large number of characters were axed in early 1990 as the new production machine cleared way for a new direction and new characters. Among the characters he introduced were the Tavernier family, pub landlord Eddie Royle and most notably the Mitchell brothers and their sister Sam — the Mitchells went on to become major long-term characters, among the most popular featured in the programme. At EastEnders Ferguson was responsible for storylines such as the return of runaway Diane Butcher, Mark Fowler's HIV, Mo Butcher's Alzheimer's, Nick Cotton's attempt to poison his mother Dot Cotton, and the murder of Eddie Royle. Ferguson decided to leave EastEnders in July 1991. He remained with the BBC, producing the hospital drama series Casualty (1993–94), before returning to ITV in 1996 to once again direct for The Bill. His last directorial credit for the programme was in 2002. Personal life Ferguson had two daughters, Tracy and Nikki, by his first wife Susan; Nikki predeceased him. Ferguson died in October 2021, aged 84. References External links 1937 births 2021 deaths 20th-century British Army personnel Alumni of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art BBC television producers British male stage actors British television directors British television producers British theatre directors People educated at King's College School, London People from New Malden Soap opera producers