How to watch EastEnders 40th anniversary episodes this week – full BBC schedule
EastEnders will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this week - and there is a lot in store for fans of the BBC soap including a live episode which will see the end to many storylines
Soap fans, brace yourselves! The much-awaited EastEnders 40th anniversary week is finally here. BBC viewers will be treated to their regular dose of Albert Square drama in Walford, along with an extra hour-long episode and a special live broadcast.
In addition to this, the four-decade celebration includes a 45-minute interview special hosted by Joe Swash, and a unique documentary, EastEnders: 40 Years On The Square, presented by Ross Kemp. To commemorate this significant milestone, Ross has reprised his role as Grant Mitchell on EastEnders after nearly a decade, alongside several other legendary characters.
Besides all these exciting events, current and former cast members featured in special editions of BBC shows Celebrity Bridge Of Lies (February 15) and Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (February 14).
Phil Mitchell
Here’s when you can catch all the EastEnders 40th anniversary episodes on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this week:
- Monday, February 17 – 7.30pm.
- Tuesday, February 18: 7.30pm.
- Wednesday, February 19: 7.30pm (hour-long episode).
- Thursday, February 20: 7.30pm (live episode).
The upcoming live episode of EastEnders is “set to change Walford, and the lives of those who live in it forever”. In celebration of the soap’s 40th anniversary week, there will be a big reveal as the identity of Cindy Beale’s Christmas Day attacker comes to light.
Following the public exposure of her affair with Junior Knight at The Vic, thanks to Lauren’s betrayal, Cindy was left in critical condition after being hit over the head with a shovel in the Square Gardens. Whodunit remains a mystery, but at the time of the assault, Cindy had made several enemies ready to lash out.
Denise will have to choose between Jack or Ravi
Her bombshell about the affair destroyed her engagement to Ian Beale, devastated the Beale and Knight families, and pushed Cindy to contemplate leaving Walford for good.
Each night during the anniversary week, which kicks off on February 17, viewers can tune into a new episode at 7:30 pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Notably, this particular week will forego the earlier 6 am iPlayer releases.
When EastEnders goes live to mark the soap’s 40th anniversary on Wednesday many of the cast will be riddled with nerves, desperate to avoid a mishap in front of the nation. But for Jamie Borthwick, who plays Jay Mitchell, it will be a walk in the park.
The Queen Vic will be on fire during the 40th anniversaryThe 30-year-old actor, who has been a Walford favourite for 18 years, says taking to the Strictly dance floor has cured him of any nerves. Jamie and his professional partner, Michelle Tsiakkas, lasted ten weeks in the BBC competition and have recently wowed audiences up and down the country on the show’s nationwide tour.
Speaking about the live episode: “And you know what? That live episode will be a walk in the park now I’ve done Strictly, I won’t even be thinking about nerves. That won’t even be a thing. Like, “Oh, are we live?”
“Nothing will be scarier than dancing, doing something I don’t really know how to do, in front of millions, let alone doing something I do know how to do. I won’t even bat an eyelid. I never thought I’d be in that position, so I have to thank Strictly for that.”
