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EastEnders to go live in February to celebrate its 40th anniversary

And you'll have the power to decide the outcome of one storyline!


For the first time since 2015, EastEnders will be going live in February for a full episode as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, but this time there's a first-of-its-kind twist as the audience will have the power to decide the outcome of one storyline.


In a first for the soap, the anniversary week will have an added twist to include an interactive element where the viewers will be able to choose their desired outcome of a love story.


Whilst those in question currently remain under wraps, their fate will remain firmly in the viewers’ hands and the outcome will play out during the live episode as the cast and crew will be set to adapt the scene to portray whichever result is voted for by the public.


The first time EastEnders went live was ain 2010, for its 25th anniversary, where it was revealed that Stacey Slater killed Archie Mitchell. Then for its 30th anniversary in 2015, EastEnders went live again, this time with a set of five episodes that all included live elements as the ‘Who Killed Lucy Beale’ whodunit was revealed.


Speaking ahead of the live episode, 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."


"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."


The episode will broadcast live from BBC Elstree Centre in February and more details on how the interactive element will work will be announced in due course, alongside finite details of the storyline and the characters in question.


EastEnders continues Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One with first look episodes available from 6am on BBC iPlayer

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