EastEnders fans ‘work out’ identity of characters at the centre of 40th anniversary live episode
EastEnders fans believe they have ‘worked out’ who is at the centre of the interactive live episode to mark its 40th anniversary.
Earlier this month, it was announced the BBC soap will celebrate the milestone in February with a live broadcast that will see viewers able to vote on a storyline with the actors having to react to the outcome.
EastEnders bosses also teased that the plot would be ‘a love story’, with those involved still under wraps.
With Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) set to return to the show in the lead-up to the anniversary, many fans have speculated the storyline will involve Martin Fowler (James Bye) having to choose between his ex-wives Ruby and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).
As fans know, Stacey and Martin have remained close since they divorced in 2020, even having a brief fling last year.
Martin married her best friend Ruby in 2020, prompting a fallout between the women which later saw Ruby falsely frame Stacey for pushing her down the stairs and losing her baby, resulting in her being jailed.
Ruby was last seen being carted off to prison herself in 2021, when Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) set her up as revenge for framing Stacey.
At the time, it was hinted that she was pregnant with Martin’s baby – something that was confirmed to be true last week, when recent returnee Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) revealed to Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) she’d shared a cell with a pregnant Ruby.
With Ruby’s imminent return set to prove quite the shock for Martin, many have predicted the triangle will take centre stage in the anniversary celebrations.
One fan theorised on X: ‘Seeing as it’s the Ruby anniversary, why do I have a feeling this will be to decide who Martin (the first child born on the show) chooses out of Stacey & Ruby?’
‘With Ruby’s return, I wonder if it will be a choice for Martin between Ruby and Stacey,’ another posted.
‘It’ll probably be Martin, Stacey and Ruby or Suki and Eve,’ a third wrote.
Another said: ‘People saying it’ll be Stacey and Martin involved in the live vote storyline for the 40th anniversary… I hope you know that if you people let me down and Martin and Stacey have the chance of getting back together and you vote wrong I will never speak to anyone ever again.’
One was less enthused, however, writing: ‘Kinda hope it’s better than Martin choosing between Stacey and Ruby.’
EastEnders’ executive producer Chris Clenshaw previously said of the live episode: ‘As well as going live, we are adding an extra twist and for the very first time in the history of the show and as a gift to the viewers, we are giving the audience the power to have their say in choosing the outcome of one of our storylines.
‘Whilst we’re still keeping the finite details of the 40th close to our chest, I can promise that it will be an unmissable week full of shocking twists that will change Albert Square, and the lives of those who live in it, forever.’
The BBC said more details on how the interactive element will work will be announced in due course, alongside finite details of the storyline and the characters in question.
