BBC one are excited to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their soap EastEnders from Monday February 16 until Friday February 20.
Credit: BBC
Marking the special occasion by going live all week, explosive drama and a flashback episode are going to be involved as huge revelations and twists are to change Albert Square forever.
In all the episodes that week, a series of live elements will be embedded into each show with a fully live half hour episode airing on Friday night at 8pm.
Controller of BBC One Charlotte Moore said: "BBC One will mark the 30th Anniversary of its flagship series with the most ambitious week of live television drama ever attempted. The truth will out as Lucy Beale's killer is finally exposed to the nation. Alongside the unmissable drama, we have a Graham Norton special and Zoe Ball will present a live backstage show with Ore Oduba and Joe Swash to complete proceedings - it's going to be off the scale!"
Executive producer of EastEnders, Dominic Treadwell-Collins added: "As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we have set ourselves an enormous challenge - a week of live scenes, a form-breaking flashback, a live episode, story twists that will leave a lump in the throat and a few moments that will elicit genuine gasps from our audience. Having the week bookmarked with some of our most iconic characters on Graham's sofa and Zoe's live aftermath show coming direct from Albert Square as the dust is just settling, elevates this into the biggest week ever for EastEnders fans old and new."
Kicking the week off with The Graham Norton Show EastEnders special on Monday night, nods to the past will be shown as well as warm welcomes to the future.
A bumper line-up of soap stars include Pam St Clement, June Brown, Kellie Bright, Shane Richie, Danny Dyer, Adam Woodyatt, Letitia Dean, John Altman, Richard Blackwood and Jessie Wallace, all in front of a studio audience that's filled with past and present cast members.
Barbara Windsor is to reprise her role as Peggy Mitchell in the special week of episodes, making a visit to her beloved Queen Victoria pub, whilst Jo Joyner and John Partridge also return to the Square as Tanya Cross and Christian Clarke, attending Ian and Jane's wedding celebrations.
Viewers are to then discover just who killed Lucy Beale and have the opportunity to discover via flashback just how and why it happened on Thursday at 9.30pm.
Filling in the blanks, the episode hopes to answer burning questions both residents of Walford and viewers sitting at home have had since early last year.
Hetti Bywater is back for the episode to reprise her role as Lucy Beale, whilst Tanya Franks as Rainie Cross and Jamie Lomas as Jake Stone are also back.
Friday will see Zoe Ball go backstage as she's given exclusive access to the set and cast following the end of the fully live episode.
Presenters Ore Oduba and Joe Swash will join her to gain instant reactions from some of the Square's most-loved residents, revealing how the anniversary episodes were put together each night from conception to the rolling credits.
Special guest appearances and iconic moments from the last 30 years will also take place, and there may be a few surprises along the way.
Check out the full BBC One EastEnders live schedule below.
- TUESDAY 17th FEBRUARY at 7.30pm: EastEnders (30 mins) with live inserts
- WEDNESDAY 18th FEBRUARY at 8pm: EastEnders (30 mins) with live inserts
- THURSDAY 19th FEBRUARY at 7.30pm: EastEnders (60 mins) with live inserts
- THURSDAY at 9.30pm Flashback episode (30 mins) with live inserts
- FRIDAY 20th FEBRUARY at 8pm: EastEnders fully live episode (30 mins)
- FRIDAY at 8.30pm EastEnders: Backstage Live with Zoe Ball, Ore Oduba and Joe Swash (with a live switchover to BBC Three at 9pm)