BBC EastEnders stars lift the lid on explosive Christmas murder storyline

EastEnders fans have threatened to boycott the BBC show as Max Bowden is being axed, following a showdown with bosses. Max has played the iconic role of Ben Mitchell for four years and The Sun previously revealed that EastEnders bosses have decided not to renew his contract when it expires in March this year.

EastEnders star Brian Conley has finally spoken out after his character, Rocky Cotton, was arrested and said an emotional farewell in Friday's episode. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the 62 year old actor had decided to leave the popular BBC One soap, two years after joining in 2021.

EastEnders star Max Bowden, who plays Ben Mitchell, will be leaving the soap after four years. The actor, 28, who has played the role of Ben on the hit BBC soap since 2019, is leaving EastEnders next year. His final scenes are thought to air in the coming weeks, a show insider revealed to the Daily Star.

In one of the EastEnders longest running storylines, there were plenty of hints on who would be murdered. Almost a full year ago, in January 2023, fans were told a character would be murdered at Christmas time on the Square. Characters Suki Panesar, Stacey Slayer, Kathy Beale, Sharon Watts, Denise Fox, and Linda Carter, were all towering over the mystery body in The Queen Vic in the teaser clip.

EastEnders fans were left puzzled after a major plot hole was spotted following Keanu's shocking Christmas death. On Christmas Day, viewers watched as Linda Carter killed Keanu Taylor for trying to strangle Sharon Watts after she wouldn't let him see Albie. It came after Sharon called off the wedding having learnt that Keanu was a part of the kidnapping plot for Albie, reports The Mirror.

EastEnders has announced the death of another character following the shocking murder of Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) with the Mitchells set to face a big loss, leaving one character deeply affected. This follows the Christmas Day tragedy in Walford, which ended with Keanu getting stabbed by Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) as he attempted to strangle Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean). But this won't be the only tragedy to hit Albert Square in the coming weeks, according to the MirrorOnline.

EastEnders star Scott Maslen, who plays the iconic Jack Branning in the BBC soap, took to Instagram to share some sweet moments from his Christmas, along with a rarely seen snap where he packed on the PDA with his DJ wife, Estelle Rubio. The couple, who exchanged vows in a gorgeous ceremony in 2008, looked happier than ever as they cuddled up for a kiss in front of a Christmas tree. Scott looked cosy in a beige knitted jumper, while he wife looked stylish in a white vest with silver detailing.

TV fans have been experiencing deja-vu after recent episodes of EastEnders saw six of the Square's female residents team up to dispose of a body after a shocking murder storyline. On Christmas Day, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) stabbed Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) as he strangled her best friend Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), just moments after Denise Fox (Diane Parish) had hit Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) with a wine bottle after he attacked his wife Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal).

EastEnders fans have been left on the edge of their seats after the dramatic Christmas special that saw Linda Cater commit murder.

BBC EastEnders fans reckon Keanu Taylor "isn't really dead" after spotting a clue in the Christmas murder scene. Viewers tuning into the Christmas Day episode of the BBC soap finally found out who met their maker, as Keanu Taylor was brutally killed by Linda Carter in a huge twist. It was initially believed that Denise Fox had murdered Nish Panesar with a bottle.

EastEnders fans are sure that another massive twist is in store as Nish Panesar - who acted as one of the BBC soap's biggest bluffs during a shocking night of twists and turns - will be framed for Keanu Taylor's murder.

EastEnders fans are in fear of a shocking twist involving Dean Wicks, after the surprise murder of Keanu Taylor. On Christmas Day, viewers were on tenterhooks as the much-anticipated Christmas killer storyline played out. Back in February, a scene had shown Linda Carter, Suki Panesar, Kathy Beale, Stacey Slater, Denise Fox and Sharon Watts standing over a dead body.The Christmas Day episode finally revealed that the ladies were gathered around Nish Panesar.

EastEnders fans were left in shock and "couldn't believe" what they were seeing as the BBC soap finally revealed the identity of the Christmas Day murder victim and the mystery killer, ending 10 months of speculation from viewers. Fans have been eagerly awaiting this year's special episode since the BBC soap aired a special flash forward episode back in February teasing a shock death with Denise Fox (Diane Parish), Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth), Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) and Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) gathered around a dead body at the Queen Vic.

EastEnders' icon Sharon Watts, played by Letitia Dean, very rarely gets a chance to catch her breath between the various twists and turns of her extraordinarily dramatic life, and the past few weeks have been no exception. After her son Albie's kidnap, doctors discovered he has Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AAT), a genetic condition that could lead to liver and lung disease later in life. Sharon was told that both she and Albie's dad Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) would need to carry the gene for Albie to have it.

Kathy Beale is one of Walford's leading ladies after appearing on the first-ever EastEnders episode in February 1985. During earlier episodes of the much-loved BBC One soap, Kathy was married to Pete Beale (Peter Dean), the twin brother to Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard), who was famed for selling his fruit and veg on Bridge Street Market - now owned by Martin Fowler (James Bye).

Lacey Turner is one of EastEnders' most-loved actresses, having portrayed Stacey Slater since 2004 and tackled some huge storylines over the years. Lacey, 35, will once again take centre stage at Christmas on the BBC One soap this year, with Stacey being one of The Six and linked to the mystery murder on Christmas Day.There's a possibility she could even be the murderer, as it wouldn't be out of character for Stacey, who previously killed villainous Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) on Christmas Day in 2008. Lacey's life away from Albert Square is worlds away from Stacey's, especially her love life.

EastEnders' Keanu Taylor's secret is about to be revealed in a Christmas wedding shocker, with fans on the edge of their seats as Keanu will finally be exposed during the festive nuptials. Recently, Phil Mitchell spilled the beans about Karen Taylor and her son Keanu's kidnap plot to a shocked Sharon Watts.This happened while she and Keanu were celebrating their upcoming wedding at the Queen Vic on Christmas Day. Karen was caught out for planning to kidnap Sharon's son Albie and even made a fake ransom note for £50,000., but Sharon still doesn't know that Keanu was also involved in the plan.

EastEnders' Jack Branning might be the unlucky one to meet his end this Christmas, after his recent actions placed him directly at odds with three members of The Six. In the final scene before the big Christmas Day episode, a huge clue may have confirmed Jack's fate after he crossed paths with three of the six Christmas murder suspects, Denise Fox, Stacey Slater and Suki Panesar.

Last Christmas, dramatic scenes in EastEnders aired of Mick Carter mysteriously vanishing in the sea and fans have been debating his fate ever since.

Tuesday night's usual showing of EastEnders has been cancelled as BBC One's schedule was altered to make room for the Sports Personality of the Year awards. Disappointed fans of the soap may be happier to learn that there will be an extra episode on Friday to make up for the missing instalment.