EastEnders fans were left in tears on Tuesday night as the programme aired its final episode after running out of episodes due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The hit BBC One soap will keep loyal viewers in suspense as they ended the show with a dramatic Sharon Mitchell cliffhanger.
Production on EastEnders came to a halt in March, when the UK went into lockdown and most people were instructed to stay home, and work from home if they can.
The End(er)! EastEnders fans were left in tears on Tuesday night as the programme aired its final episode after running out of episodes due to the COVID-19 crisis
And for the first time in the soap’s 35-year history, the show ran out of new material on Tuesday night and was forced to go on a hiatus in a BBC first.
Tuesday’s dramatic final episode ended with Sharon, played by Letitia Dean, being revealed as the new Queen Vic pub landlady.
Viewers had been led to believe that Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) would be taking over the reins but Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) managed to trick the Walford hardman.
Bombshell: The hit BBC One soap will keep loyal viewers in suspense as they ended the show with a dramatic Sharon Mitchell cliffhanger
Naughty: Viewers had been led to believe that Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) would be taking over the reigns but Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) managed to trick the Walford hardman
Just as Mick was about to sign over the Queen Vic, he dropped the explosive bombshell that there was in fact a new different landlord.
Phil was left sceptical over the announcement as he protested: ‘We had a deal. You’re bluffing, there’s no way you could have got a different buyer that quick.’
To which Mick then led Phil and his equally baffled wife Linda (Kellie Bright) to the bar where Phil’s estranged wife Sharon was pulling pints.
In a typically dramatic Albert Square scene, Phil’s scorned wife chillingly said: ‘Hello Phil, what can I get you?’
Revenge! Just as Mick was about to sign over the Queen Vic, he dropped the explosive bombshell that there was in fact a new different landlord
Get out of my pub! In a typically dramatic Albert Square scene, Phil’s scorned wife chillingly said: ‘Hello Phil, what can I get you?’
The camera then panned on to a smug Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), Mick and Linda while Phil was left seething over the dramatic bombshell.
Phil and Sharon have been at loggerheads after she decided to raise her illegitimate son Kayden rather than give him to his grandmother Karen while the Walford hardman also blamed her for Dennis’ death, resulting in him kicking her out.
Soap watchers were left delighted over the explosive ending as they admitted that they were in suspense over what will happen next between the two characters.
Yet some viewers were left in tears over the final episode as they lamented the fact that their favourite soap would be off air for the foreseeable future.
Smug: The camera then panned on to a smug Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), Mick and Linda while Phil was left seething over the dramatic bombshell
On person said: ‘Noooo!!! I am really emotional #eastenders.’
A different user put: ‘I just cried at the end of Eastenders knowing it’s the last one for a while. #EastEnders #f**kcovid @bbceastenders.’
Another follower commented: ‘If Eastenders ever had to end for good then tonight’s episode was pretty perfect. ‘Hello Phil what can I get ya?’ #EastEnders #Sharon.’
A different viewer joked: ”Hello, Phil! What can I getcha?” – Sharon Watts 2020, Series 1, Finale, EastEnders. #EastEnders.’
Mixed reaction: Soap watchers were left delighted over the explosive ending while some fans were left in tears over the soap finishing for the foreseeable future
While another fan added: ‘Gutted that was the last @bbceastenders episode tonight. Can’t wait for it to return in September.
‘Loved tonight’s duff duff cliffhanger Sharon just bought the vic and said hello Phil what can I get you – Classic #EastEnders.’
The cast have in fact returned to the set over the past couple of weeks, and production has restarted on new episodes, but these will not be ready for broadcast just yet.
In place of its Monday and Tuesday episodes, a new series called Secrets From The Square, hosted by Stacey Dooley, will be shown. It was advertised during Tuesday’s final episode.
BBC One will also unearth iconic past episodes and treat fans to a does of nostalgia for the time being.
Re-Stace-Ment! In place of its Monday and Tuesday episodes, a new series called Secrets From The Square, hosted by Stacey Dooley, will be shown. It was advertised during Tuesday’s final episode
Since EastEnders has never been aired in ‘seasons’ like other shows, this will be a milestone episode to many.
It first hit screens in February 1985 and has been a staple of British evening TV ever since.
The soap will return later in the summer, returning to its four days a week broadcasts, which were scrapped to release out the instalments that were in the can.
But the show returns with shortened episodes; rather than the standard half-hour slots, they will be 20 minutes long to begin with.
Executive Producer of the show Jon Sen said: ‘Resuming production is incredibly exciting and challenging in equal measure.
‘Since we postponed filming we’ve been working non-stop trialling techniques, filming methods and new ways of working so that we can return to screens four times a week – as EastEnders should be.
‘Filming will inevitably be a more complex process now so creating 20 minute episodes will enable us to ensure that when we return, EastEnders will still be the show the audience know and love.’
Back to (Albert) Square one! The soap will return later in the summer, returning to its four days a week broadcasts, which were scrapped to release out the instalments that were in the can