EastEnders fans are in for a treat as the beloved BBC soap celebrates its 40th anniversary with a groundbreaking live episode, set to air in February 2025. In an exciting twist, for the first time ever, the outcome of a major storyline will be decided by the viewers themselves.
This live episode marks a return to form for the long-running soap, which previously aired live episodes for its 25th and 30th anniversaries. The 2010 live episode revealed Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) as Archie Mitchell’s (Larry Lamb) killer, while the 30th anniversary in 2015 featured live elements across five episodes to uncover Lucy Beale’s murderer.
However, for the 40th anniversary, EastEnders is raising the stakes by offering viewers the power to shape the outcome of a key love story during the live broadcast. The cast and crew will be ready to adapt in real-time as the results of the public vote dictate which direction the storyline will take, marking a first-of-its-kind event in the soap’s history.
Executive producer Chris Clenshaw shared his excitement about the anniversary plans, stating: “The 40th anniversary is a milestone event for EastEnders, and we have been planning this week for a long time to ensure that it’s full of drama and surprises. This time, as well as going live, we are adding an extra twist—giving the audience the power to have their say in choosing the outcome of one of our storylines.”
While the details of which characters will be involved remain under wraps, Clenshaw assured fans that the live episode will be filled with shocking twists that will have lasting consequences for Albert Square.
The episode will be broadcast live from the BBC Elstree Centre, where EastEnders is filmed, in February 2025, making it an unmissable event for fans of the show.
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