Showbiz 5 Special: EastEnders 40 Years of drama

A look at some of the goings on surrounding EastEnders’ 40th anniversary next week…

Episode bundle for 40th week

As BBC One prepares to celebrate Walford’s momentous 40th anniversary next week, starting from Monday 17th February all episodes will drop simultaneously on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7:30pm.

A special hour-long episode will air on the show’s anniversary on Wednesday 19th February, followed by a full live episode on Thursday 20th February, which will not only reveal who Denise chooses, but will conclude an explosive week of drama in Walford.

Fans have the chance to choose between Jack and Ravi as Denise’s love interest, with the result being incorporated into the live episode. Voting will commence on the EastEnders website at 8:30pm on February 19 and will close at 7:10pm on February 20. A BBC account is required to take part in the vote.

Anniversary trailer teases shattered lives in Albert Square

There has been a lot of drama in the build up to the forthcoming live episode, as well as a few nods to the past.

Will Cindy get her revenge for her downfall? Can Sharon and Grant make Phil seek the help he needs? Is there a happy ending for Sonia and Bianca? Will Denise choose Jack or Ravi? And who gets more than a pint when the Queen Vic warms up more than its central heating usually allows for…

Celebrate with song

The Beeb have also revealed as part of the special BBC Three EastEnders Revealed: The Lock-in! that Rag’n’Bone Man will be performing on set, in The Queen Victoria as part of the programme.

The celebration of Albert Square’s decades on air is hosted by actor and presenter, Joe Swash, who is best known to the ‘Enders viewers as Mickey Miller. Fans of the saga will be given behind the scenes insights into Cindy Beale’s attacker reveal, Denise, Jack and Ravi’s interactive love triangle, and will also reveal exclusive details relating to the live episode by talking to some of the actors directly involved including Jacqueline Jossa, Natalie Cassidy and Patsy Palmer.

Whilst re-watching their alter egos, some of the actors who find themselves at the heart of the drama will share their possible theories on the outcomes of their storylines, whilst offering their thoughts on taking part in the live episode, and how it feels to be involved as the show reaches its monumental milestone.

Th special looking at the events celebrating the anniversary will air on BBC Three at 8pm and on BBC One at 10.40pm on Tuesday 18th February.

CBeebies Granted a Walford Bedtime story

Ross Kemp invites children to snuggle up as he reads a special CBeebies Bedtime Story from the iconic EastEnders ‘caff’ to celebrate the show’s 40th anniversary.

In this heartwarming episode, Ross shares the hilarious and heartfelt rhyming story The Squirrels Who Squabbled by Rachel Bright and Jim Field. The tale follows two very different squirrels who struggle with friendship and sharing, offering young audiences a fun and meaningful lesson about understanding others and seeing the world through different eyes.

Cyril and Bruce, two greedy squirrels, both want the same thing: the very last nut of the season. As the prized nut bounces through the forest, the squirrels race after it—leaping between trees, over boulders, across rivers, and right to the edge of a waterfall. They soon realise that the only way to save themselves is by working together.

With a perfect message for competitive friends and sibling rivals, this playful tale fits Ross Kemp perfectly as he takes a seat in the iconic yellow CBeebies Bedtime Story chair and celebrates the 40th anniversary of EastEnders, reprising his role as Grant Mitchell.

Ross Kemp’s CBeebies Bedtime Story airs at 6.50pm, Monday 17 February on CBeebies.

Special show to celebrate

The BBC are marking the landmark soap anniversary with a couple of programmes over the anniversary week. Firstly, BBC One is to broadcast a special hour-long documentary EastEnders: 40 Years on The Square that explores the show’s fearless approach to storytelling.

The documentary will highlight how EastEnders‘ depiction of working-class life in London has gone beyond entertainment, influencing society and shifting public views on significant issues over the years. It will be fronted by actor and presenter Ross Kemp, best known in the world of soap as legendary Grant Mitchell.

Ross will speak to some of the actors that were directly involved in these storylines, many of which tackled themes and issues that had never been featured on primetime British TV or on soaps beforehand. He will also chat to original cast members and show stalwarts Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale), Gillian Taylforth (Kathy Cotton) and Letitia Dean (Sharon Watts), as they reminisce on their early days in E20 and offer their thoughts on some of their favourite storylines across the past 40 years.

Special appearances from EastEnders legends Anita Dobson (Angie Watts) and Pam St Clement (Pat Evans) will also feature, with the original landlady taking a trip back down memory lane alongside her on-screen daughter. The documentary airs on Monday, February 17th, at 8 pm on BBC One.

Ross is also being kept busy with the Walford theme as he presents an EastEnders special of Bridge of Lies tomorrow (Sat, Feb 15th). Four Walford stars will be hoping to become the ultimate Queen Vic pub quiz team as taking on the formidable bridge for the very first time are Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale) and Michelle Collins, who plays his ex-wife, Cindy Beale.

Joining them in the team are Micah Balfour, who plays Junior Knight, and Molly Rainford, who plays Junior’s half-sister, Anna Knight. All four actors’ alter egos are involved in the ongoing ‘Who Attacked Cindy?’ storyline, with the culprit set to be revealed during EastEnders’ 40th anniversary week – but there’ll be no bad blood in the Celebrity Bridge of Lies studio, as they work together as a team to get across the bridge and win money for their chosen charities.

Later today Danielle Harold (Lola Pearce) and Max Bowden (Ben Mitchell) will be heading to the Cotswolds in a special episode of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip. Channelling that East End drama, the pair will go head-to-head to see who can uncover the most interesting antiques and make the most money at auction. BBC Two at 7 pm.

Later tonight on BBC Four there is also a chance to see musical performances with EastEnders Sings at the BBC with Shaun Williamson (Barry Evans) overseeing proceedings, from cast performances to solo efforts and its followed by the very first episode of Wogan as Terry welcomes Wendy Richard onto the sofa to talk the forthcoming new twice weekly saga set in Albert Square.