EastEnders created the Beale and Fowler family, drawing on his own background. His mother, Ethel Holland, was one of four sisters raised in Walthamstow. Her eldest sister, Lou, had married a man named Albert Beale and had two children, named Peter and Pauline. These family members were the basis for Lou Beale, Pete Beale and Pauline Fowler. Holland also created Pauline's unemployed husband Arthur Fowler, their children Mark Fowler and Michelle Fowler, Pete's wife Kathy Beale and their son Ian Beale. Smith used her personal memories of East End residents she met when researching Victorian squares. Ethel Skinner was based on
EastEnders in popular culture sketch show, "The Real McCoy" (1991–1995). "EastEnders" and its characters were frequently spoofed in the impressionist sketch show "Big Impression", starring Alistair McGowan and Ronni Ancona. "Big Impression" once screened a one-off special, focusing on "EastEnders", called "Alistair McGowan's BigEnders". The cartoon sketch show "2DTV" has also spoofed "EastEnders" on many occasions. The character of Pauline Fowler was mentioned in the successful BBC drama "This Life" in 1997. In one episode of the show two key characters, Anna and Ferdy, watched an episode of "EastEnders" on television and mocked Pauline's hysterics and her well documented tendency to wear cardigans. A