AN East Lancashire-raised national radio presenter has launched a drive to improve ailing soap EastEnders...by calling for more Northerners in Albert Square.

Victoria Derbyshire, who grew up in Turton, near Darwen, hosts BBC Radio Five Live's daily morning phone-in, reckons more "Northern chirpiness" in the London-set soap would bring viewers flocking back.

And after raising the idea on her show, she got a flood of calls from listeners backing her.

Over the last year, viewing figures for BBC1's flagship soap have tumbled to a low of just over six million last month.

It averages 11 million an episode, down two million on the start of the year, while Coronation Street continues to average 15 million and, on several occasions this year, has hit 19 million.

A constant stream of bad news plotlines have been blamed for viewers switching over from BBC1.

Bosses at the soap are confident they can turn things around, promising new characters and storylines.

But Victoria says the new characters must be from the North.

She said: "It's time to have a few new characters in EastEnders and what better way than to inject some Northern chirpiness among the gloom.

"It could change the soap for the better.

"There are loads of great Northern characters in other soaps. My favourites would be Corrie's Hilda and Stan Ogden for brilliant acting and comedy value.

"From the present cast, it would be Suranne Jones who plays Karen Macdonald, and Barbara Knox who plays Rita Sullivan."

Coronation Street's success has been put down to being able to mix light-hearted stories with serious plots, while remaining believable. It has several East Lancashire actors and actresses in it, including Vicky Entwistle as Janice Battersby and Malcolm Hebden plays Norris Cole. Hayley Cropper is Julie Hesmondhalgh's character, while young Chesney Brown - who won best soap newcomer at the National Television Awards ceremony this week - is played by Bacup boy Sam Aston.

His TV mum, Cilla, is played by local actress Wendi Peters.

Polls of soap fans have suggested that the constant gangland-style feuds between rival families in Walford just don't strike a chord.

A spokesman for EastEnders said: "We have a lot coming up which we are sure will have viewers hooked."

The poor performance of EastEnders has given Blackburn with Darwen Council an unexpected boost.

Viewing figures for the 'fly on the wall' documentary shown on Granada, 'Are You Still Being Serviced?,' raised by 200,000, peaking at 500,000.

It was pitched against EastEnders on Thursday evenings in August and September, and it was initally only shown in the North West.

It has subsequently been shown in other regions of the country.