Walford was engulfed in a dramatic inferno in the latest EastEnders episode, as Reiss Colwell crashed his car into the iconic Queen Vic, causing a gas explosion. The pub came tumbling down amidst soaring flames, and with numerous locals trapped, Ian Beale and George Knight looked on in utter shock after being knocked over by the blast. This high-octane stunt sets the stage for the soap’s 40th-anniversary celebrations, building up to a gripping live episode on Thursday that will see Denise Fox make the life-altering choice between her husband Jack Branning or secret beau Ravi Gulati. EastEnders has revealed that not everyone will emerge from the chaos unscathed as Sonia Fowler faces labour as she tries to flee the blaze – yet viewers suspect another disaster may strike.
Jack Branning
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Following the catastrophic pub collapse seen in tonight’s episode, eagle-eyed fans speculate a bridge might fall, leading to a catastrophic train derailment. Concerned viewers have flooded social media, recalling persistent train sounds in recent episodes. “The train sounds? ? ? #eastenders,” tweeted one intrigued spectator, while another pondered: “Did we ever find out what happened with the train stuff that was being teased around the time of Christmas/New Years? ? #Eastenders does anyone remember? ?” Meanwhile, another viewer tweeted out a teaser for the 40th anniversary special that zoomed in on Walford East Station, questioning: “Why was it so focused on the train station? #EastEnders.” In tonight’s gripping episode, the sound of the train was ever-present, notably during a tense moment when Grant Mitchell, Linda Carter, and Nigel Bates desperately tried to prevent Phil Mitchell from taking his own life, and earlier in the episode as well. Tuesday’s dramatic instalment revealed that her mother-in-law Kathy was behind Cindy Beale’s attack on Christmas Day, reports the Mirror. Confessing to the crime, Kathy divulged her motive for striking Cindy with a shovel, seeking vengeance for Cindy’s affair with Ian. “I thought anything could happen, his heart but you know what, at least you were gone. At least he was safe from you,” she expressed. “Oh no – there you were, traipsing past the house. Back.” Ahead of EastEnders’ 40th anniversary, Ross Kemp returned in the role of Grant Mitchell after three years away from the soap and also announced that he would be presenting a behind-the-scenes documentary about the BBC show. The documentary will feature appearances from soap icons Pat St Clement and Anita Dobson. Pat, 82, is best known for her role as Pat Butcher, which she played from 1986 until 2012, while Anita, 75, starred as Queen Vic landlady Angie Watts from the first episode in 1985 until 1988. EastEnders airs weekdays from 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
