EastEnders’ much-anticipated 40th anniversary is finally upon us and in keeping with the huge milestone, bosses have some seriously explosive drama planned.
A blast is set to rip through the Queen Vic pub just as Honey and Billy Mitchell (Emma Barton and Perry Fenwick) are celebrating their nuptials, with at least one character confirmed to perish in the disaster.
With it being such a big event, the majority of the cast will be caught up in the devastation, meaning many lives are likely to be hanging in the balance as the week unfolds.
However, with a number of forthcoming cast departures and several other clues and theories doing the rounds online, here’s who we think could most not likely make it to the end of Thursday’s live episode…
Reiss Colwell
Let’s start with the most obvious candidate, shall we?
Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) is currently on the run after he was finally unmasked as a killer to his horrified fiancée Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy).
However, we already know that Reiss will make a return to Walford in next week’s episodes for what is thought to be his final chapter in his story, as actor Jonny Freeman is leaving the show after two years.
Pictures taken following the filming of the Queen Vic explosion previously revealed how it looks like Reiss’ car crashes into the pub’s barrel store – could he die while trying to make another escape?
Sonia Fowler
Last month, Walford icon Natalie Cassidy revealed she’d quit her role as Sonia 32 years after she started on the soap as a nine year old, leading to speculation about just how the character will make her exit.
Natalie herself has refused to rule out Sonia being killed off, saying on her Off The Telly podcast: ‘It is never ever your choice – you never know how you are gonna go.
‘You can make your own choice to go but its down to them [the producers] what they do.’
Spoilers teasing the drama ahead for the live episode have already revealed that a heavily pregnant Sonia will go into labour in the ruins of the Vic following the explosion.
Will mum and baby make it out safely, or could the 40th week conclude with a tragic end for one of EastEnders’ longest serving characters?
Ruby Allen
One EastEnders fan recently put forward the convincing theory it could be Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) who loses her life in the blast as the love triangle between her, Martin Fowler (James Bye) and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) reaches a head.
‘Can’t shake the thought of Sonia giving birth while trapped with Stacey and Ruby,’ they wrote on X. ‘Martin having to save his three wives, but ultimately having to make a decision between Stacey and Ruby.
Pointing out the significance between her name and the anniversary, they added: ‘Who could really resist killing off Ruby in the live 40th episode?’
The theory could stack up, as when actress Louisa Lytton’s return was announced last September, bosses confirmed she was only back ‘for a prolonged stint’.
Her exit is imminent too, as Louisa has signed up to appear in a touring production of A Girl on the Train, playing the lead role of Rachel Watson between 15 April and 31 May.
EastEnders 40th anniversary – Everything we know so far
Here’s what EastEnders fans can expect as the soap celebrates its 40th anniversary on 19 February 2025:
A live episode
Having previously gone live for the 25th and 30th anniversaries in 2010 and 2015, the soap will be beaming live to the nation once again during the 40th week.
This instalment will air one day after the big 4-0, on Thursday February 20.
The episode will also mark a huge EastEnders first as bosses are giving the audience the power to vote on the outcome of one storyline, with the actors having to react to the result live on air – speaking of which…
Denise Fox decides… sort of.
With Denise Fox (Diane Parish) having found herself in a love triangle with Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), fans will decide whether she reunites with her estranged husband Jack or picks her secret lover.
We also know that another ‘history making’ decision will be left to audiences to decide, with details yet to be announced.
Grant Mitchell returns
Ross Kemp will be reprising his role as the legendary Grant Mitchell to play a significant part in the 40th celebrations.
‘Grant has never been far from the action and let’s just say, this time is no different as he certainly comes back with a bang,’ Ross teased.
Cindy Beale’s attacker revealed
Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) was left for dead when she was whacked over the head with a shovel by a mystery assailant on Christmas Day after the truth about her affair with former stepson Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) exploded.
With the finger of suspicion currently pointing at numerous characters, Cindy’s attacker will be unmasked at last during the anniversary week.
Special programming
Ahead of the big week, BBC Four will broadcast EastEnders Sings at the BBC, a look back at archive performances from cast members from Top of the Pops.
Ross Kemp will take a trip down Walford memory lane with a special hour-long documentary called EastEnders: 40 Years on The Square, taking fans behind the scenes as he delves into the show’s history and relieves some of the most memorable moments.
BBC Three will also offer viewers a look at the explosive anniversary storylines with a 45-minute interview special – EastEnders Revealed: The Lock In – hosted by Joe Swash as he chats to some of the actors who find themselves at the heart of the anniversary drama.
The Queen Vic explodes
As Billy and Honey Mitchell (Perry Fenwick and Emma Barton) prepare to walk down the aisle, their favourite boozer The Queen Victoria will burn to the ground.
Aerial pictures from filming show the pub blown to smithereens, with a car crashed into the side. There’s also a marquee in the middle of the Square Gardens – is this from the wedding?
Martin Fowler
Actor James Bye set tongues wagging earlier this month when fans spotted he had removed the soap from his bio on Instagram.
With the forthcoming departures of all his ex-wives, some fans suggested Martin’s death could serve as a catalyst for Stacey, Ruby and Sonia to all leave Walford.
On X, one viewer noted how Martin’s friends mistakenly thinking he was 40 last year could also be a clue, adding: ‘The 3 people who are closest to Martin are all leaving, there are flowers by his stall, he’s constantly been talking about his legacy, he celebrated his 40th birthday last year by mistake, and now this. He’s dying.’
Certainly seems plausible…
However, it is worth noting that the change James’ bio could be a deliberate misdirect, as was similarly the case when Jamie Borthwick made a change to his bio when Jay Brown was involved in a car crash in 2023.
Stacey Slater
Lacey is currently on maternity leave from EastEnders, but recently confirmed she is returning especially for the live episode, having only given birth to her third child – a daughter called Gipsy – last month.
It would be fair to assume this means Stacey is playing a key role in events, perhaps adding weight to the theory it could be her beloved ex Martin who dies.
But is there the remote chance the live episode could actually be Stacey’s swansong?
Cindy Beale
Michelle Collins recently revealed to Metro that despite her character being central to the anniversary storylines, she will not be appearing in Thursday’s live episode.
During the early part of the week, fans will see Cindy discover the identity of her Christmas attacker and confront them with a gun, before setting off a chain of events that causes the Queen Vic to explode on Tuesday.
Is the reason Cindy doesn’t appear on Thursday’s live because she will meet her end in Wednesday’s hour-long special?
