EastEnders trouble. Co-creator Tony Holland was from a large East End family, and such families have typified "EastEnders". The first central family was the combination of the Fowler family, consisting of Pauline Fowler, her husband Arthur, and teenage children Mark and Michelle. Pauline's family, the Beales, consisted of Pauline's twin brother Pete Beale, his wife Kathy and their teenage son Ian. Pauline and Pete's domineering mother Lou Beale lived with Pauline and her family. Holland drew on the names of his own family for the characters. The Watts and Mitchell families have been central to many notable "EastEnders" storylines, the show
Pauline Fowler a knitting pattern book and a greeting card. The well-known character of Pauline Fowler has also been referenced in various television programmes, unrelated to the "EastEnders" universe. In 1997 she was mentioned in an episode of the successful BBC drama "This Life". Two key characters, Anna and Ferdy, watch an episode of "EastEnders" on television and mock Pauline's hysterics and her well-documented tendency to wear cardigans. The character was also regularly spoofed in the BBC comedy sketch show, "The Real McCoy" (1991–1995). One of the show's recurring sketches featured a spoof version of "EastEnders", with black comedians taking over roles