The 40th anniversary celebrations of EastEnders are in full swing, with the soap opera set to make history with a live and interactive episode.
The BBC episode airing on Thursday night will be broadcast live from Albert Square, with producers hinting that anything could happen. In a first for soap operas, viewers will have the ultimate say in deciding the outcome.
The live episode is “set to change Walford, and the lives of those who live in it forever”. As part of the 40th anniversary week, several major characters have made their return to Walford.
Wednesday night’s special hour-long episode featured dramatic scenes in the aftermath of the Queen Vic fire. However, not all characters will survive the pub fire, which was sparked by shocking events as reported by the Mirror on Tuesday.
Earlier in the week, it was revealed that Kathy had assaulted Cindy on Christmas Day. A dispute with Ian resulted in Cindy ‘accidentally’ shooting him in the arm, and a subsequent argument saw Cindy push Ian into the road and into the path of Reiss’s car.
Reiss swerved to avoid hitting Ian, but instead crashed into gas cans, causing an explosion at the beloved Queen Vic. Amidst all this drama, here’s what fans can anticipate from tonight’s live episode…
Denise’s decision and viewer vote
Tonight’s episode will leave the future of Denise Fox (played by Diane Parish) in the hands of the fans, as they decide if she should reunite with her estranged husband Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) or start anew with her current flame, Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara). Viewers began casting their votes at 8:30pm on Wednesday, February 19, and have until 7:10 pm on Thursday, February 20, to make their choice, just before the live episode broadcasts.
The decision promises to be a tough one, with opinions split. The question on everyone’s mind is whether Denise ought to return to Jack, who has been her rock during her struggles following her role in Keanu Taylor’s death, or opt for the youthful allure of Ravi, who accepts her truly for herself.
Both men come with baggage; Jack, Walford’s less-than-honest cop, betrayed Denise by having an affair with Stacey Slater, his own grandchild’s grandmother. Ravi, notorious as a drug dealer, took the life of the man he once believed was his father and has history with Denise’s daughter, Chelsea Fox.
Upon announcing the unique live event, Chris Clenshaw, executive producer of the iconic BBC soap, shared his enthusiasm: “We’re all so excited to give our audience their first ever chance to decide how one of our big storylines plays out.
“Their votes will determine whether Denise picks Jack or Ravi, with the outcome being revealed as part of our live episode. There is a lot to come over the next few weeks for all three involved, so it’ll be extremely exciting to see which way the audience choose to take the story.”
After all the votes are in, the decision on EastEnders’ denouement will be independently confirmed and passed to Clenshaw just as the show is set to begin. This will allow the cast and crew to focus solely on bringing the winning script to life and dismiss the alternative that didn’t make the cut.
Sonia’s baby
It’s not just Denise’s fate up for public adjudication; Sonia’s newborn’s name is too, with the choice being Julia or Toni, a nod to EastEnders’ creators Julia Smith and Tony Holland. In a tense scenario last seen, Sonia found herself in labour at the Vic, cornered with Bianca and Lauren for support.
Confronted by her killer fiancé Reiss, an unyielding Sonia yelled at him: “You are a freak, Reiss. You are a murdering freak. You’re not going to be any part of my daughter’s life.”
In defense, Bianca brandished a rolling pin to fend off Reiss, resulting in an accidental fall that left him trapped but initially relieved – until a weighty bathtub ominously ended his life. Confirming his demise was Bianca after inspecting the ghastly scene.
Amidst her agonising contractions, Sonia expressed to Bianca her indecision over naming her daughter Julia or Toni (“with an i”), prompting the BBC to post a voting link following the episode with the query “What should Sonia name her baby? ” Now viewers are left wondering, amidst this intricate narrative tapestry, whether Martin will endure.
What fate faces Martin?
EastEnders viewers were left hanging on the edge of their seats as Martin Fowler made the heart-wrenching decision to choose Stacey Slater over Ruby Allen, only for their moment to be shattered by a massive metal beam plummeting from above. In a heroic act, Martin managed to push Stacey out of harm’s way but was tragically hit by the beam himself.
The dramatic scene has sparked a frenzy on social media, with fans desperate to know if Martin will pull through. One anxious viewer posted: “Is Martin going to die. And is Stacey going to tell Ruby he chose her? “.
Another fan expressed their concern, saying: “Martin chooses Stacey then gets crushed by a steel beam.” A third speculated about the outcome: “Martin better live or I will have words. I think Martin is a red herring. I think he’ll live and someone dies in hospital.”
And a fourth pleaded: “Please let Reiss be the only one deceased, we cannot lose Martin! “.
Who is not making an appearance?
In related news, two familiar faces have confirmed they won’t appear in the upcoming live episode. Ross Kemp, known for his iconic role as Grant Mitchell, announced on ITV’s This Morning that he would not be part of the live event, clarifying: “I’m not doing the live, I’m no longer there, I’ve departed – not in a hearse, I hasten to add.”
Grant recently made a comeback to Albert Square following appeals from his old friend Nigel Bates to assist his brother Phil Mitchell, who has been struggling with mental health issues and contemplating suicide. Earlier this week, viewers were gripped by intense scenes where Phil attempted to end his life for the second time, only to be interrupted by Grant, Nigel, and Linda Carter.
Despite their efforts, a distraught Phil, armed with a gun, pulled the trigger – but the firearm was empty, as Cindy had previously used it to shoot at Ian Beale.
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In Wednesday’s hour-long episode, a mental health professional visited Phil at The Arches following his distressing attempt, leading him to decide to seek help at a mental health facility. Meanwhile, Cindy Beale was seen being rushed away in an ambulance after being injured in the explosion at Queen Vic.
She was spotted wearing an oxygen mask in the back of the emergency vehicle, with a paramedic telling her she ‘has a lot to thank’ her mother-in-law Kathy Beale for, who saved her from her injuries in the pub. Removing her oxygen mask, Cindy retorted bitterly: “Thank her? No chance,” upon learning that Kathy had tried to kill her on Christmas Day.
Cindy also revealed to the Metro that she won’t be appearing in the live episode, stating: “I’m actually not going to be in the live. I am allowed to say that.”