EastEnders: When it will return and what to expect

Everything you need to know about the soap’s come-back after almost three months off-screen

EastEnders has not been on air since it ran out of episodes nearly three months ago. But now, with the national lockdown gradually lifting, it’s due back on screens very soon.

Here’s everything you need to know about when the beloved soap was last on, when it’s returning, and what storylines to expect…

When was EastEnders last on TV?

The last episode of EastEnders aired on BBC One on 16 June. It officially ran out of episodes due to the coronavirus lockdown forcing all UK soaps to cease production in March.

When will EastEnders be back on TV?

Filming resumed at Hertfordshire’s Elstree studios on 29 June with new social distancing measures; protective screens were placed between actors to help “cheat” social distancing rules, and actors’ real life partners were enlisted as body doubles for physically intimate scenes.

The show will be back on air on Monday 7 September at 8pm on BBC One.

EastEnders will air four nights a week, however the episodes will be shorter than usual at just 20 minutes each.

Ben and Lola in ‘EastEnders‘ (BBC)

What storylines can viewers expect?

Some publications have speculated that EastEnders bosses plan to scrap most current storylines and start over from scratch. While there is no evidence to support this, it remains unclear how writers will deal with the unprecedented time jump of almost three months. Be prepared for flashbacks.

The last episode we saw left many questions unanswered, such as…

What will Phil do now that Ian and Sharon are the new owners of the Queen Vic?

Whitney’s court case for the murder of Leo still on the horizon – will she go to prison?

Will Ben’s operation to help restore his hearing loss go smoothly?

Fans have also been left wondering if Karen and Billy stay together, how far Ian will go to silence Dotty, and if Bobby is plotting revenge on Peter.

There is a lot of secrecy surrounding the plot of future episodes, as always, but we do know that Kat will be back following Jessie Wallace’s reported suspension from the cast back in January.

Martin and Ruby, meanwhile, are all loved up after staring an affair during lockdown.

Stacey is coming home to Walford, too, and Denise’s dark past will be explored.

Danny Dyer also recently revealed Mick and Linda will be facing difficulties, having sold the Vic to Sharon, and he believes it’s one of the best storylines he’s had in all his years on the show.