'EastEnders' replaced by old episodes and behind-the-scenes show as soap goes off air
EastEnders has confirmed the show will stop airing on 16 June with a new programme about the soap and old episodes set to take its place.
Filming on the programme halted in March due to the coronavirus and two episodes have aired every week since on Monday and Tuesday, but the pre-filmed instalments have now run out.
Now, Monday nights will see fans getting a glimpse into the goings on behind the scenes as cast members will give their insights into the soap in EastEnders: Secrets From The Square, which kicks off from Monday 22 June.
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Stacey Dooley will front the programme as she sits down with two cast members each week to discuss their time on the show from the set of Ian Beale's (Adam Woodyatt) restaurant Walford East, complete with social distancing measures.
Woodyatt, EastEnders' longest-serving cast member, is part of the line-up as is Sharon Mitchell star Letitia Dean, Denise Fox actor Diane Parish and Mick Carter's Danny Dyer, among others.
Meanwhile on Tuesday nights, viewers will be shown classic episodes full of iconic moments including the shocking Christmas Day reveal of Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Stacey Slater's (Lacey Turner) affair, Sharongate and Den (Leslie Grantham) and Angie Watts' (Anita Dobson) two-hander.
Kate Phillips, Controller of BBC Entertainment, said in a statement: “EastEnders has been at the heart of BBC One since its inception 35 years ago.
"While going off air was never in their plan, we and the EastEnders team knew straight away that this would be the perfect opportunity to celebrate the show, look back on cherished memories of all those momentous episodes whilst taking a look around Albert Square and they may just give us some teasers as to what’s to come when they return.”
Filming on the soap is set to resume later in the month, but a return date for the ongoing series is yet to be confirmed.
It comes as Coronation Street announced this week that cast and crew would be returning to film the long-running soap with social distancing measures in place.
However, older members of cast and crew and those with underlying health issues will go back at a later date until it's deemed safe for them to do so.