Gosforth's own Queen Vic pub gives regulars chance of BBC stardom in EastEnders special

The Queen Victoria Bar and Restaurant in Gosforth
-Credit:Newcastle Chronicle


It shares its names with quite possibly the most famous boozer on TV and now, The Queen Victoria in Gosforth is inviting its regulars to get a bit of stardom as part of EastEnders' 40th birthday celebrations.

It might be hard to believe, but it was way back in 1985 that millions of viewers tuned in to get a first look at Albert Square and its residents, with the opening scene of the first ever episode bringing the discovery of a dead Reg Cox. Over the last four decades, EastEnders has given us TV gold by the bucket load; who can forget the tragic deaths of fan favourites like Ethel, Tiffany and Jamie, Sharongate, as Grant found out his wife had slept with his brother or that famous Kat and Zoe Slater moment..."You ain't my mother....yes I am!"

The hit BBC soap is planning on entering its fourth decade in serious style with a live episode, where at least one character will die and fans are being given the power to choose who Denise will pursue a romance with out of Jack or Ravi. And, before all of that, Gosforth's Queen Vic will welcome in a team from BBC radio next week on Monday, February 10.

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Revealing all on the pub's Instagram account and appealing for customers to play their part, The Queen Vic wrote: "We have had a phone call from the BBC Radio , as EastEnders turns 40 next month they are wanting to do a tour of Queen Vic pubs down the country and ours is the firs.

"They will be here on Monday the 10th of Feb., from the afternoon for a game of bingo and they would like to chat to some of the locals about the Queen Vic, then they will be broadcasting the late show live from the pub. if anyone would like to come down and have a chat to them please let us know the more the merrier, I hope everyone will agree this is a fantastic opportunity for the pub and we hope to see you all come down and show your support."

In other big news for any fans of EastEnders, its former star Shaun Williamson, known to millions as Barry Evans, will be hosting his own karaoke night in Newcastle later this year.