live from the square
EastEnders reveals huge LIVE episode plans for epic 40th birthday anniversary
Plus, viewers will also get a chance to decide the ending of the special
EASTENDERS have announced an epic live episode as part of their 40th birthday next year.
The BBC soap will air a completely live instalment from their Walford set as they mark the milestone.
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And in a show first for EastEnders, viewers will have the power to control the outcome of a love story.
During the special - which will air in February - fans will take part in a vote during the show.
The cast and crew will then be able to adapt to the outcome chosen by Beeb viewers.
Speaking about the live special, EastEnders' executive producer Chris Clenshaw said: “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 a week full of drama and surprises.
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"In fact, as our regular audience will know, we have already seen the return of familiar faces and have many more nods to our history to come which will all build up to our momentous anniversary week.
"This time, as well as going live, we are adding an extra twist and for the very first time in the history of the show and as a gift to the viewers, we are giving the audience the power to have their say in choosing the outcome of one of our storylines.
"Whilst we’re still keeping the finite details of the 40th close to our chest, I can promise that it will be an unmissable week full of shocking twists that will change Albert Square, and the lives of those who live in it, forever.”
EastEnders last went live in 2015 during a dramatic ending to the Lucy Beale whodunnit storyline.
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The episode saw Jo Joyner's character Tanya accidentally ask Jane Beale how Adam was - instead of referring to Ian - in a hilarious blunder.
Cameras first went live 14 years ago as Stacey Slater was revealed as Archie Mitchell's killer and Bradley Branning fell off the roof of the Queen Vic, plunging to his death.
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EastEnders stars who QUIT
MICHELLE Collins has seen her second EastEnders stint boost her bank balance. Yet what stars have quit this year?
The Sun exclusively reported how Michelle, 62, was down to £20,000 in her company accounts when she agreed to a shock back-from-the-dead return to Albert Square last year.
Her character, Cindy Beale, was presumed dead off-camera in 1998.
Yet what about the 2024 exits?
Earlier this summer, loyal soap fans appeared to note how Stevie Mitchell had "quit" the long-running series.
It came after Alan Ford enjoyed just six-months on-screen.
Bobby Beale actor Clay Milner Russell also left this year after five years in Walford.
Fans also feared Martin Fowler actor James Bye would "quit out of boredom"; over recent storylines.
Additionally, a host of stars have quit the BBC soap for Hollywood fame.
One of the most successful stars to come from the BBC One soap is Rob Kazinsky.
He played Stacey Slater’s brother Sean Slater from 2006 to 2009, he has starred in Hollywood blockbusters Pacific Rim and Captain Marvel.
Ben Hardy, who quit EastEnders as Bobby Beale almost a decade ago, went on to break Hollywood the following year, when he starred as Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse.
Since then, he has played Roger Taylor in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and he starred in Michael Bay’s Netflix movie 6 Underground.
Michelle Ryan played Zoe Slater until 2005.
She starred as the lead in short-lived American series Bionic Woman from 2007 to 2008.
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