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EastEnders reveals brand new Christmas gossip

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

From Digital Spy

EastEnders has brought back one of its most acclaimed writers to pen this year's Christmas episodes.

Simon Ashdown has returned to EastEnders after a four-year absence to write 2017's festive scripts, which will see the Branning family take centre stage.

Ashdown (pictured below) worked on the BBC soap between 1995 and 2013, crafting some of the show's most memorable episodes and storylines during that time.

Photo credit: ITV/REX/Shutterstock
Photo credit: ITV/REX/Shutterstock

Notably, he played a key role in creating the Branning family and wrote many of their best moments, including Max and Stacey's affair reveal in 2007 and the 25th anniversary live episode featuring Bradley's death.

It's now been officially confirmed that the Branning family will once again be at the heart of Christmas on EastEnders this year – with show insiders tipping the dramatic episodes to go down in Walford history.

EastEnders' executive consultant John Yorke commented: "I'm delighted to welcome one of EastEnders' greatest writers back to the show.

"Simon has delivered some of EastEnders' biggest moments and I hope people will agree that his Christmas episodes are right up there with his very best work."

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

An EastEnders insider added: "With Christmas rapidly approaching in Albert Square, things are set to explode in catastrophic style. Secrets and lies are exposed and families are torn apart forever."

Ashdown's time on EastEnders saw him rise through the ranks to become the show's lead writer and series consultant from 2007.

At the British Soap Awards in 2012, he won the Special Achievement prize for his contribution to EastEnders.

Digital Spy can also confirm that Ashdown has written another big Branning episode which will air on Thursday, December 7 – so there won't be long to wait before his work hits our screens again.


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