December 23rd 2024.
The highly-anticipated soap schedule has finally been revealed! EastEnders, known for its dramatic and controversial storylines, will be dropping some major episodes on BBC iPlayer this Christmas and New Year. As we all know, the soap usually uploads episodes on their streaming service at 6am, with one exception – if there's a big twist, viewers have to wait until the linear transmission on BBC One that evening.
But the wait is over as the show's social media accounts have confirmed which episodes will be available to watch early. While the first two episodes of the week will be released early, fans will have to wait until 7.30pm and 10.35pm on Christmas Day to get their dose of East End drama. This year, the show is returning to its classic format of two episodes on Christmas Day, instead of the special one-hour episode in recent years. The second episode will air after a 65-minute Call the Midwife special and the highly-anticipated final episode of Gavin & Stacey, which will be a whopping 95 minutes long starting at 9pm.
And the excitement doesn't end there, as on Boxing Day, after the shocking reveal of Cindy Beale's affair, viewers will have to tune in together at 8.30pm. The Christmas and New Year schedule is definitely going to keep us all on the edge of our seats!
But with all the twists and turns that EastEnders is known for, it's no surprise that some information is being kept under wraps for now. And unfortunately, this also applies to New Year's Day, as the episode won't be released until 10pm. But trust us, it'll be worth the wait to see what happens at Suki Panesar's wedding to Eve Unwin. Will Nish be able to stop them? We can't wait to find out.
Luckily, that's the only episode across the week that won't be making an early appearance on iPlayer. Producer Chris Clenshaw has teased that there's so much more to come in the coming weeks, saying, "I think it was important for us to have a classic EastEnders this year as we enter the 40th year. If you bring back Cindy Beale, you want Cindy Beale! So we always knew it wouldn't take too long for her to look elsewhere."
There's so much to unpack in the upcoming episodes, including the centrepiece of New Year – Suki and Eve's wedding. And with love triangles, family drama, and revenge plots, it's going to be a busy time in Albert Square. Chris also hinted at a big storyline involving Phil Mitchell's loneliness, saying, "He's got family around him, but he's struggling. As usual, Steve McFadden is blowing my socks off. It's really interesting and different to tell this story with Phil Mitchell. We all know someone like him."
But it's not just the big storylines that have us on the edge of our seats. Chris also revealed some juicy details about the love triangle between Stacey Slater, Martin Fowler, and Ruby Allen, saying, "Since Ruby's return, Stacey definitely has feelings for him, but it's whether or not she can pluck up the courage to tell him or if it's too late." Who will Martin choose?
And if you're a fan of the Ravi and Denise storyline, you won't be disappointed. Chris teased, "We have a big New Year storyline with Suki and Eve's wedding, and Ravi is part of that. It's EastEnders' first lesbian wedding, but Nish is out there and has gone underground. It's his final act of vengeance." He added, "My heart was in my mouth when I watched those episodes – expect a lot of drama at New Year."
With so much going on in the coming weeks, it's no wonder that EastEnders fans can't wait to see what's in store. And if you're one of those fans, make sure to join Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community to get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on the link and select 'Join Chat' to stay updated on all things soaps.
So mark your calendars and don't miss out on the exciting episodes coming up on EastEnders this Christmas and New Year. And if you have any soap or TV stories, videos, or pictures, feel free to get in touch with us – we'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment below to join the community and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.
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