EastEnders fans, it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for, as the BBC One soap will expand its back catalogue of episodes, with over 2,000 classic offerings set to become available over the course of the next year.
The excitement is real.
BBC iPlayer has been offering up four weekly classic episodes since the first lockdown four years ago, initially providing audiences with a daily slice of Walford life when current episodes were taken off air amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The streaming service has wracked up quite a collection as a result, with every offering from 2008 to 2011 currently available to view.
With the final instalments of 2011 having only been added last week, fans were left wondering if the subsequent year would follow suit and be added to the service.
It brings me great joy to tell you that, yes, 2012 is coming to iPlayer!
The classic offerings, however, will adopt a new and exciting streaming pattern from here on out. Instead of four episodes being made available weekly, fans will now be able to stream the entire year in one fell swoop, with every episode from 2012 dropping from Tuesday March 25.
But wait, there’s more!
Much like Amazon Freevee did with Neighbours last year prior to its return, fans can expect a whole year of Albert Square drama to arrive on iPlayer on the 25th of each and every month.
By Christmas Day, every episode from 2008 onwards will be available to view. That’s over 2,000 episodes, just in case you were wondering!
Fans can relive the arrival of iconic EastEnders families such as The Carters, who rocked up in Walford in 2013, and experience all the highs and lows of Albert Square life between 2008 and present day.
Discussing the historic move, EastEnders’ Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw said: ‘We’re thrilled that BBC iPlayer are expanding their collection of EastEnders episodes so that our viewers can enjoy a look back at some of the show’s most iconic storylines as we honour its rich history and its gripping characters.
‘Viewers will be able to rewatch their favourite characters and relive their favourite moments, such as Who Killed Lucy Beale?, Peggy’s heart-breaking death, Stacey’s post-partum psychosis and Kathy’s jaw-dropping return from the dead.’
Dan McGolpin, Director of BBC iPlayer and Channels, said: ‘It’s fantastic to see EastEnders in such great form for 2024 and this is generating strong demand from viewers to enjoy earlier episodes on BBC iPlayer. I’m delighted that we’re able to add all of 2012 by the end of the month and we’ll have more than 2,000 episodes available by Christmas.’
So, what are you waiting for? Get streaming!
