Disastrous weddings, pub brawls, love-rat scandals, serial killer neighbors, and the utter impossibility of enjoying a peaceful Christmas—life in soapland is not for the faint of heart. For 40 years, audiences have tuned into EastEnders for this very brand of drama. Now, the BBC show is commemorating its milestone anniversary with an “unmissable” week of episodes, featuring a live special and opportunities for audience participation.
Ross Kemp is making a comeback as Grant Mitchell, viewers will witness Walford icon Natalie Cassidy’s final scenes as Sonia, and the identity of Cindy’s Christmas Day assailant will be unveiled. See? Nothing good ever comes from spending Christmas at home in soapland. (And for those who believed Cindy died in prison in 1998, she actually returned from the dead in 2023 after spending time in witness protection. Stay updated!).
In a first for Albert Square, this week viewers will have the opportunity to vote on whether Denise Fox (played by Diane Parish) should reconcile with her estranged husband Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) or choose her secret lover Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara). These latest escapades follow four decades of captivating television that has engaged audiences since the very first episode aired on February 19, 1985. So, let’s raise a glass, Queen Vic style, to EastEnders at 40. Cue the doofs…
**Dirty Den’s Divorce Papers**
You can’t discuss EastEnders’ most significant moments without mentioning Christmas 1986, when 30 million viewers tuned in to witness the notorious Dirty Den serving his wife Angie with divorce papers after discovering she had been faking a terminal illness. “Happy Christmas, Ange…”—a brutal moment that remains the most-watched soap episode in British history. Den was later shot and seemingly killed by a man hiding in daffodils, only to return from the dead, before meeting his demise once more.
**Mark’s HIV Diagnosis**
During the peak of the HIV epidemic in the 1990s, Mark Fowler became the first mainstream British TV character to be diagnosed with HIV. EastEnders producers collaborated with the Terrence Higgins Trust charity to ensure that his diagnosis and illness were portrayed accurately on screen. This groundbreaking storyline reached millions, helping to shift public attitudes about the virus during a time of fear and misinformation. After leaving Walford in 2003, Mark’s family was informed of his death the following year.
**Sharongate**
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