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EastEnders: Who will die in the gas explosion?

Photo credit: Getty Images/Digitalspy/ST / BBC
Photo credit: Getty Images/Digitalspy/ST / BBC

From Digital Spy

It's the question every EastEnders fan is undoubtedly asking today: whose Albert Square days are numbered following the shock news that a major character is being killed off?

Last night, word leaked out that the show's bosses have filmed a huge stunt storyline that will leave at least one dead, and several other lives hanging in the balance. But who will be the unlucky victim? We've got a few guesses...

1. Steven Beale

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

Steven is currently on borrowed time in Walford given that we know Aaron Sidwell is leaving the soap – but does a grisly fate await him?

Not only is he currently taking centre stage in one of the show's biggest storylines after he lied to Lauren about having a brain tumour, but Steven has also found himself at the mercy of manipulative Max – who knows all about his nefarious antics. On top of that, Steven is having an affair with Lauren's sister Abi and is about to break his stepdad Ian's heart with the news of his pretend illness. And if we're being completely honest – we can't see him ever really coming back from any of this.

Sure, other characters have done worse deeds and lived to tell the tale, but upsetting so many people in such little time usually culminates in an equally upsetting exit where Soapland is concerned. So, if we were going to put money on which character will meet their maker next month, we'd be going with Steven.

2. Billy Mitchell

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

He's been holding the torch in Walford (literally at times) for nearly 20 years, but sadly that doesn't mean hapless Billy Mitchell is immune from a grisly death. And if we cast our minds back to earlier this summer, speculation was actually rife that there had been plans to kill Perry Fenwick's character off.

Back then, rumours suggested that a shock exit plot had been lined up for Billy – until actor Steve McFadden stepped in and threatened to quit if they went ahead with the idea. Who said all the drama only happens on screen?

EastEnders did speak out to dismiss the rumours ­– stating that there was no truth in the stories and these alleged conversations had never taken place. But with so much change at EastEnders of late, we'd be lying if we said we weren't still a little concerned for Billy ahead of these big episodes.

3. Fi Browning

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

She's the mysterious businesswoman romancing Max Branning, but it wouldn't be much of a surprise if Fi's storyline came to a head soon. It's been made clear from the start that Lisa Faulkner was only being brought in as a guest character, meaning ruthless Fi has a shelf life anyway. And let's face it, she is hardly likely to go out quietly.

Upcoming scenes will see Fi start to show her more vulnerable side as she opens up to Mick Carter – but could this just be a clever ploy to make her demise more impactful? Either way, Lisa's alter-egos have met very grisly deaths in both Holby and Spooks, so could there be a pattern emerging here?

4. Max Branning

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

We never thought we'd say this, but Max is another character who has a shelf life thanks to the callous and ruthless revenge plan that he's been plotting all year. Along with Fi and Steven, Max's longevity in Walford is surely decreasing by the day...

We can't see him sticking around once his devious schemes comes to light. We also know that the gas explosion will coincide with Max's plot starting to unravel – so could that be our biggest hint yet?

If we're honest, it seems rather unlikely given that Jake Wood has previously said that Max's story is set to run for three years. But even so, it wouldn't be the first time in Soapland that plans have changed further down the line – especially at a time of transition, like we're seeing on EastEnders at the moment.

If this is the case, though, let's hope we get some answers about what has really been going on first, because we're still baffled.

5. Travis Law-Hughes

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

Nice guy Travis was one of several new school characters brought in during Sean O'Connor's era, and if we're being brutally honest, he's probably the most dispensable on this list. Aside from Keegan, he's the last one standing from the new teen group after Alexandra and Madison were punished following the school prom horror. And as much as we like Travis here at Digital Spy, would we really miss him that much if he followed them out the door?

Next week's scenes will see Travis and Louise's relationship go from strength to strength as he takes her to hospital for a check-up. But could this be a final act of kindness ahead of his untimely death? And how will Louise cope with more heartbreak?

6. Jane Beale

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

The EastEnders writers had a tough job trying to get us to sympathise with Jane again after her troubling role in covering up Lucy's murder, but we've got to hand it to them, they haven't done a bad job.

Just when it seemed that there really was no going back from coldly dumping Lucy's dead body on the common, the final chapter of the story saw her suffer paralysis after being attacked by killer son Bobby. And most fans have been rooting for her again ever since.

But while it may be argued this was Jane's comeuppance for her earlier crimes, could Sean O'Connor have had other ideas? Let's not forget that this was the man who gave Ronnie Mitchell long-awaited payback for her murdering antics in the form of a grisly death – and the former EastEnders boss clearly wasn't afraid to make some bold decisions.

Given that Jane has worked so hard to organise Walford in Bloom (the place of the tragedy),wouldn't it be a devastatingly ironic twist if it does transpire she's the unlucky victim?

7. Johnny Carter

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

Thanks to those recent pap pics, there isn't a question of whether Johnny will be injured during this upcoming gas explosion – it's just a case of how badly. Earlier this month, EastEnders cast and crew were spotted working on location in Essex for a dramatic plot which will see Johnny and his mum Linda left in even more danger after the ambulance they are travelling in crashes. While little more was known at the time, it was obvious that Johnny had sustained serious injuries prior to getting into the vehicle – and it's now clear what caused them.

Unfortunately, it's not looking too good for Johnny as later snaps saw him being carted away on a stretcher, much to the devastation of his dad Mick. Is Linda's sausage strong enough to pull through not one but two horror accidents on the same day? Or are the Carters about to endure their most heartbreaking ordeal yet?

EastEnders continues tomorrow night (August 24) at 7.30pm on BBC One.


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