EastEnders cancelled as BBC soap replaced in schedule shake-up days before Christmas murder revealed

EastEnders actor Matt Di Angelo has celebrated a huge anniversary on the soap, after first appearing in Albert Square in his iconic role of Dean Wicks 18 years ago. On January 2, a fan account on Twitter marked the milestone anniversary with a tribute post featuring a collage of snaps from Matt's first episode. In the caption, they said: "18 years ago today (2nd January 2006), @matt_diangelo made his first ever appearance on @bbceastenders #EastEnders." The 36 year old actor first graced our screens in 2006 as Pat Butcher's great-nephew, causing all sorts of trouble from spiking Stacey Slater's drinks to framing Sean Slater for a crime he didn't commit and even assaulting Linda Carter.

Linda Carter is set for more drama in EastEnders following the return of Lauren Branning, who will soon uncover the truth about baby Annie's paternity. Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) made her highly anticipated return to EastEnders on New Year's Day, but didn't quite make it to Albert Square after being arrested in the airport. However, she will soon be released after cousin Penny Branning's (Kitty Castledine) confession.

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' Penny Branning made a dramatic comeback to the BBC soap this week, but who is she and what's her story? Penny is Jack Branning's daughter and has been off-screen since 2008. She uses a wheelchair as she is paralysed from the waist down, a fact revealed during her first stint on the show. Not everyone knew about Penny, even though she adored her dad.

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 have been gripped by the thrilling Christmas Day episode, which saw one Walford resident turn into a killer, and are now wondering what Linda Carter's future is on the show.The extended episode of the popular BBC One soap showed Linda, played by Kellie Bright, fatally stab Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), in an attempt to save Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).The shocking scenes also involved other Albert Square residents Denise Fox, Kathy Beale, Stacey Slater, Suki Panesar, and Nish Panesar. Keanu was stabbed by Linda with a carving fork after Denise had hit Nish with a champagne bottle - but Suki managed to revive Nish after Sharon had declared him dead. After Keanu's death, the ladies started arguing over who had killed him, and who was an accessory to his death.

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 star Navin Chowdhry recently took to Instagram to share his wife’s important milestone during breast cancer awareness month. The 52 year old, who plays villain Nish Panesar in the BBC One soap, shared a post of a mug with the phrase ‘Straight Outta Chemo’, a reference to the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton, marking two years since his wife ‘lifted the cup’.The actor captioned the photo: "2 years ago. Mrs C lifted the cup! All my love to all the cancer warriors out there.

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.

After ten nail-biting months of speculation, EastEnders fans will finally learn which beloved character meets a sticky end this Christmas in the show’s explosive festive edition of the BBC soap, taking place on Christmas Day. With multiple names now in the frame to be the body spotted on the ground, fans have been quick to share their theories about the identity of the body - and who killed them - but with so much information to unpack over the past few months, it’s easy to forget or overlook some of the details and clues which have unfolded on screen.

As Christmas Day approaches, EastEnders fans have been left on tenterhooks waiting to see who will be killed at Christmas - and who the killer may be. Earlier this year a flash-forward saw Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal), Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) discover a dead male body in the Queen Vic.