It’s the long-running soap which, since its earliest days in 1985, has seen murders, fires and more than its fair share of cliff-hangers.
But the 40th anniversary episode of EastEnders next year looks like being its most dramatic yet.
Pictures from the £87million set reveal Albert Square as viewers have never seen it before – with the windows of the Queen Vic blown out and the surrounding streets strewn with rubble.
The sensational storyline, designed to entice audiences back to the BBC’s flagship show after a steady decline, sees an explosion rip through the fictional pub, whose landladies have included Peggy Mitchell – played by the late Dame Barbara Windsor – and Anita Dobson’s Angie Watts.
There is even what appears to be blood on the pavement, raising fears that some of the show’s best-loved characters could be at risk.
An industry insider said producers are ‘pulling out all the stops’ for the anniversary special, which will air in February.
‘And they hinted that fans could expect some famous actors from the show’s past to make a return, adding: ‘Curious viewers will undoubtedly recognise a few familiar faces.’
Soap bosses are said to be bringing back Ross Kemp, who played hardman Grant Mitchell, and Paul Bradley as lovable Nigel Bates.
Pictures from the £87million set reveal Albert Square as viewers have never seen it before – with the windows of the Queen Vic blown out
The sensational storyline, designed to entice audiences back to the BBC ‘s flagship show after a steady decline, sees an explosion rip through the fictional pub
The aftermath of a huge explosion at The Queen Vic, where all windows have been blown out
The aftermath of a huge explosion at The Queen Vic, where all windows have been blown out
An aerial short of the pub. Landladies there have included Peggy Mitchell – played by the late Dame Barbara Windsor – and Anita Dobson ‘s Angie Watts
There is even what appears to be blood on the pavement, raising fears that some of the show’s best-loved characters could be at risk
A black car is seen covered in rubble in the aftermath of the explosion at The Queen Vic
A red fire engine is seen in the aftermath of the explosion at The Queen Vic
A red fire engine is seen in the aftermath of the explosion at The Queen Vic
A black car is seen covered in rubble in the aftermath of the explosion at The Queen Vic
The aftermath of a huge explosion at The Queen Vic, where all windows have been blown out
The aftermath of a huge explosion at The Queen Vic, where all windows have been blown out
A black 4×4 is seen covered in rubble following an explosion at Eastenders’ The Queen Vic pub
Ambulances are seen on the set of Eastenders in the aftermath of an explosion at The Vic
A black 4×4 is seen covered in rubble following an explosion at Eastenders’ The Queen Vic pub
An aerial short of the pub after the explosion, which is set to be shown in a special episode in February next year
A black car is seen covered in rubble in the aftermath of the explosion at The Vic
It is hoped the show will go down in history alongside other memorable episodes.
Ratings winners over the years include the revelation that Lucy Beale was killed by her brother Bobby to mark the show’s 30th anniversary, the Christmas Day episode in 1986 which saw ‘Dirty’ Den serve his wife, Angie, with divorce papers rather than a turkey (watched by a record 30million people), and Kat Slater’s 2001 bombshell when she revealed to her ‘sister’ Zoe that she was, in fact, her mother.
Like many such soaps, EastEnders has suffered from dwindling audiences. Its first episode in 1985 was watched by 13million, but today it averages 4million per episode, and airs four nights a week. Typically, a further 2million tune in over the festive period for its traditionally dramatic storylines.
This year, the Christmas episodes will be as explosive as ever. Michelle Collins’s long-standing character Cindy Beale, who was thought to have died in 1998 but returned last year after it was revealed she had been in witness protection, is set to be exposed for cheating on her ex-husband Ian Beale.
Cindy had tried to have the chip shop owner killed by a hitman in 1996, but had since reunited with him, only to start an affair with her former stepson Junior Knight.
The BBC invested millions building a new set in Elstree, Hertfordshire, after the old site was deemed ‘not fit for purpose’ in 2016.
It eventually reopened in January 2022, four years late and £27million over budget, with work hampered by the Covid pandemic.
The Corporation has since agreed to sell the EastEnders set, along with its other studios at Elstree, to the insurance giant Axa, as it looks to find £500million in annual savings. It will rent back Albert Square in a long-term lease from its new owner.
