BBC EastEnders facing 'potential Christmas Day scheduling move'

EastEnders fans were not impressed with the prospect of their Christmas Day instalment of the BBC soap facing a scheduling move. The festive episode could face a timing tweak on December 25.

Typically viewers settle down to relish the show's scandalous events at 9pm. But it is thought this year, it won't air until 10pm, the Mirror reports.

Taking to X, one irked viewer said: "I want my EastEnders at 8pm then I can go to BED." Another said the possible rescheduling was 'diabolical'.

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A third wrote: "10pm??? That had better be worthwhile, not just trauma for Linda." However, another unconcerned fan said: "I go round my friends' for Christmas Dinner. I'm always either too drunk or passed out by the time EastEnders is on. It's not a Christmas tradition for me, it's a hungover Boxing Day tradition."

One Reddit user mused: "Logical explanation is that it needs to be past the watershed for some reason due to content." Another said: "They're gonna have something big planned, which I assume is not going to be good for pre 9pm viewing. 10pm is just coincidental cause of them fitting so too much in on days like Christmas Day."

Soap bosses have been tight-lipped about its Christmas plans, although fans have said there was a lot to 'live up to' following last year's The Six storyline. However there has been speculation that a much-loved character would be killed off after paparazzi snaps revealed a funeral scenes being shot earlier this year.

Actors Maddy Hill and Danny Hatchard were pictured reviving their roles as siblings Nancy and Lee Carter, prompting many fans to worry that Linda might be making a tearful departure.