EastEnders fans fume as Christmas special episode faces schedule shake-up

Fans of EastEnders are eagerly awaiting the much awaited Christmas episode this year.
When they learned that the Christmas episode of EastEnders won’t air until much later than usual, viewers of the BBC soap opera became indignant. Fans have been anticipating this year’s episode since the soap opera debuted a unique flash-forward clip to the wedding in February.

Upon seeing an unseen male body on the floor, six of Walford’s women were horrified to learn it was dead. Viewers will soon find out who dies on Christmas Day after months of speculation.

The hour-long episode won’t air until 9.45 p.m. on the BBC due to scheduling changes. For the first time in nearly two decades, they were also shocked to learn that there would be no Christmas Eve installment.

“#EastEnders Christmas special airing 9.45pm–10.45pm is an odd choice,” posted @UploadTV_ on X. This episode has been so much anticipated; it seems such a waste to throw it on so late.”

@michellewilli83 stated: “9.45pm is just ridiculous though the biggest storyline that’s been building all year most people will have given up for the day by that time, they need to lose something in that packed schedule and put eastenders on earlier.” (sic)

“Maybe the biggest EastEnders Christmas in over a decade and the BBC shift it to almost 10pm?” concurred @Kev_Andrew. To be honest, the schedule is horrible overall.” (sic)

“Why does Eastenders always air so late? Does it contain any post-watershed material? “Christmas Day is usually my first night of sleep of the year. I felt they should move it to 6 p.m. for maximum viewership,” wrote @craiging619 in a post.

@kerryannI apologized, but why is Eastenders on so late? Return Christmas eastenders at five o’clock.” (sic)

“I miss the days when the BBC actually screened Christmas movies on Christmas Day,” @CHXN3L continued. And 21:45 on EastEnders? why is it so late?

@michellewilli83 tweeted: “Schedulers 9.45 on Christmas Day is way too late for an hour long episode you’re cramming too much into 1 day instead of spreading it out over 10 days or so think you need to reconsider and remove an item and put eastenders on earlier.” (sic)

In question is a scene in which Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth), Denise Fox (Diane Parish), Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal), Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), and Sharon Watts (played by Letitia Dean) are gathered around a Christmas-themed Vic.

Before Sharon leans over and says, “He’s dead,” they are both staring at the ground in shock.

Since then, fans have been formulating theories, and since there are still a lot of unanswered questions in the soap opera, anyone could be the correct answer.