EastEnders viewers have been left excited after spotting a vital detail in an upcoming episode of the hit BBC One soap later this month.

EastEnders fans have predicted a huge “return from the dead” twist after spotting a vital detail in an upcoming episode.

Viewers will recall that Lucy Beale, the daughter of Ian Beale and Cindy Beale, was killed off in an explosive whodunnit back in 2014 and

the BBC One soap appears to be marking the ten-year anniversary with an hour-long episode on 17 April.

Soap fans who watched back then will know that Lucy was found dead in the woods. It was confirmed she was murdered, and a list of suspects were formed. The story actually ran on for around two years, while fans learned the killer’s identity in a huge episode in 2015.

The shocking revelation saw flashbacks to the moments Lucy faced her killer and was murdered, before her body was discovered by another family member. Bobby, who was around 11 years old at the time, was announced as Lucy’s killer.

Viewers will recall that Lucy Beale, the daughter of Ian Beale and Cindy Beale, was killed off in an explosive whodunnit back in 2014 ( Image:

He killed his sister by accident, and actually somehow didn’t realise what he had done. Flashbacks confirmed that Lucy was sitting in the living room writing a note to her dad Ian Beale when Bobby disturbed her. Lucy had been struggling and had turned to drugs, while she also made an enemy of a number of residents. Lucy was trying to make amends, but when she told young Bobby to go back to sleep he got angry, believing she was being mean to him again.

Bobby picked up her jewellery box which she stored her drugs in, and he struck her over the head, killing her instantly. Lucy fell to the floor, only to be discovered by her stepmother Jane Beale shortly after. As she found the body, Bobby eerily stepped out from the shadows still holding the weapon, claiming Lucy “had started it” in terms of their row.

Following this he seemed to have no idea Lucy was dead, while Jane moved the body to the woods and covered her stepson’s tracks. The next day Lucy was found and a murder investigation was launched, and Bobby had no clue he was the killer they were looking for.

And now eagle-eyed soap fans have noticed that EastEnders episode schedule plans on the BBC website will be airing an hour-long episode on 17 April while the description reads: “A shocked Jay realises he needs to tell his family some news, the Beales gather to remember Lucy, the fundraiser event takes a dark turn, and Elaine supports a friend in need.”

Taking to Twitter, now X, viewers have gone wild over the upcoming episode, predicting that Lucy could in fact somehow make a “return from the dead”. One person speculated: “Lucy is returning! I can’t believe it they are resurrecting Dame Lucy Beale. #EastEnders”, a different account put: “Lucy beale returning like she’s never left #eastenders…”, another wrote: “Imagine if Lucy Beale wasn’t actually dead and turned up with R.I.P by Rita Ora playing in the background #EastEnders” while a different fan added: “A full hour episode with no description, and the spoilers before it being vague about minor storylines? Something big must be happening on the 17th #Eastenders.”

Lucy’s own mum Cindy Beale and grandmother Kathy Beale both previously returned from the dead

It remains to be seen what will happen on the hour-long episode but it comes after Lucy’s own mum Cindy and grandmother Kathy Beale both previously returned from the dead. Walford’s residents believed Cindy was dead after she was killed off on the soap off-screen in 1998. However, Cindy actually went into witness protection, and in this time she met George Knight and had children with him, including daughter Anna, as well as Gina. Viewers recently saw Cindy return in a twist, where she had been hiding out in France with her ex-husband Ian before her Albert Square comeback.

Meanwhile, in 2000, Ian’s mum and cafe owner Kathy left the Square for a new life in South Africa. But then came the heartbreaking news she’d been killed in a car crash in 2006 – off-camera. However, it later transpired she’d been after the insurance money, and she made her dramatic return in 2015, coinciding with the show’s 35th anniversary.

It emerged that she had been bullied into faking her own death by abusive husband Gavin Sullivan (Paul Nicholas) but thankfully her loved ones managed to free her from his clutches. Kathy’s old flame Phil Mitchell had discovered she was still alive, and after hiding her at first, he convinced her to come home – where she’s stayed ever since.