My wife watches a host of them; 'stenders, 'bours, home and away and god knowa what else. I think the only one she doesn't watch is Corrie.
I was never into them at Uni when it seemed to be quite popular with other students. We used to have Corrie on at home - but I maintain it was more "real" and interesting back then.
So, although I don't watch them, I am exposed to them and the worst by a long chalk is Eastenders. I can't bear being in the same room when it is on. It is a parody of itself. Nobody talks at normal volume unless it is a menacing whisper in gruff tones (and that's just the women). How can anyone enjoy watching so much anger, jealousy, malevolence, in fact all of the worst possible attributes of the human character exhibited by so many people in such a condensed amount of time?
I truly believe it is influential. I appreciate there is a bit of chicken and egg about these things. However the frequency with which these socially unacceptable behaviours are displayed on television - often in a manner that, if not lauding them, is certainly not discouraging them - at the very least numbs people's tolerance of such behaviours.
Then again there is the question of censorship....