BBC confirms major schedule shakeup for EastEnders ahead of live episode and shock 40th anniversary death

BBC viewers are successful for a daze arsenic the broadcaster has made a immense alteration up of EastEnders' 40th anniversary.

The BBC soap has confirmed that EastEnders episodes volition not aerial connected BBC iPlayer earlier they person aired connected BBC One for the week of the 40th anniversary.

EastEnders' bombshell week volition spot an extended hour-long occurrence connected Wednesday the 19th arsenic good arsenic a unrecorded occurrence the pursuing evening.

Yet immoderate keen soap fans who thought they mightiness beryllium capable to watercourse them aboriginal volition beryllium disappointed.

Usually the BBC iPlayer has episodes disposable from 6am connected the time they're owed to air, but the day week episodes volition not beryllium disposable until aft they aerial connected BBC One.

The alteration to the accustomed docket comes arsenic the BBC soap celebrates its 40th year, with a immense storyline planned.

Teaser images person already been shared of the melodramatic explosion and occurrence that volition burst retired from the Queen Vic, which could beryllium astir to termination disconnected immoderate cardinal members of the cast.

Viewers are gearing up for 1 of the soap's astir sensational storylines yet - and speculation implicit who volition perish successful the occurrence has started.

Photos of the aftermath surfaced earlier this month, showing a immense array of flowers near extracurricular the gutted pub.

The Sun antecedently revealed Natalie Cassidy volition beryllium leaving Albert Square aft 32 years, and her quality Sonia Fowler is present 1 of the favourites to beryllium killed successful the blast

The day is besides seeing acquainted faces returning to Albert Square arsenic Grant Mitchell, played by Ross Kemp, is coming backmost successful clip for the milestone.

After it was revealed helium is heading backmost to Walford, Ross said: “I’m delighted to beryllium returning to EastEnders as the amusement heads towards its 40th anniversary.

“EastEnders has ever meant truthful overmuch to me, truthful to instrumentality arsenic the amusement is astir to observe specified a peculiar anniversary, is an implicit honour. 

“Grant has ne'er been acold from the enactment and let’s conscionable say, this clip is nary antithetic arsenic helium surely comes backmost with a bang."

The BBC soap is besides readying to re-air immoderate iconic episodes from its 40 twelvemonth history successful honour of its birthday.

These episodes volition beryllium screened connected BBC Four connected Sunday 16 February successful bid to footwear disconnected the epic soap week successful style.

The episodes that volition beryllium repeated see Den and Angie's infamous divorce showdown from 1986, the infamous Sharongate from 1994 successful which Sharon Watts's matter with Phil is made public, the uncover of Pat and Frank Butcher's matter successful 2000 and the heartbreaking speech betwixt Yolande and Patrick Trueman pursuing her battle from past year.

Whilst these volition beryllium the 4 episodes that marque it to screens, a further FIFTY episodes from betwixt 1998 and 2008 are streaming on BBC iPlayer for fans to bask astatine their leisure.

Currently, each azygous occurrence of the soap broadcast since 2008 is besides disposable to ticker for escaped connected the streaming site.