EastEnders fans furious over cancelled episode ahead of Cindy Beale’s dramatic return as spoilers leak
EASTENDERS fans have been left furious by a massive schedule change.
Tonight’s episode set to show Cindy Beale’s dramatic return has been cancelled to make way for the World Athletics Championship.
The announcement hasn’t gone down well with viewers, who tuned in for their Monday night soap fix.
“What do you mean there is no EastEnders tonight?”, asked one.
Another ranted: “It really is frustrating when #EastEnders schedule gets hijacked.
“Completely unnecessary given how many free to view channels there are available”
It’s also caused trouble between fans – with some tuning in to watch the episode after it went live on BBC iPlayer early.
It meant some who were saving it to watch live on TV tomorrow night saw spoilers online.
One said: “Cindy, Ian and Peter Beale are in tomorrow nights 1st episode 7pm. Just watched the episode EastEnders.”
Another added: “Thank you to everyone who has not shared Spoilers for tonight’s #EastEnders on the timeline.
“I’ll intend to watch LIVE all week from 19:00pm tomorrow for the first 2 and then Thurs from 19:00pm for the Second two.”
Meanwhile some else said: “Today’s #EastEnders is on tomorrow, but it’s on the iPlayer now, with tomorrow’s date. So I’m watching it now because I can.”
The BBC soap will only be airing on two nights this week as it makes way for the World Athletics Championship.
BBC One will be showing live coverage of the event from Budapest.
This means EastEnders will only air on Tuesday and Thursday this week.
The BBC will air a double bill of of episodes making them one hour long.
Episodes will be released on iPlayer as usual on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6am.
Upcoming scenes will see Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) make a dramatic return to the square after 25 years away.
She will be returning with her ex-husband Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and their son Peter (Thomas Law).
Walford residents will be in for a shock as they believe Cindy is dead.
But she actually went into witness protection and spent 15 years living as ‘Rose Knight’.
She then met George Knight (Colin Salmon) and had two daughters Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna (Molly Rainford).
How will they react after she walked out on them with no explanation?
Talking about his return as Peter, Thomas commented: “It was easier in a way because they wanted to show a more mature and put-together side of Peter this time around.
“I played Peter for such a long time so I felt like I really knew him but Adam [Woodyatt] and Michelle [Collins] made it easy for me to get back into the role too, as I had to harness onto the fact that Peter just really loves his mum and dad.
“That was pretty easy for me to do because I do love them both. That’s not to say that I wasn’t nervous on the first day on set but all my nerves went away when I started to work with them.”
EastEnders airs on BBC One and iPlayer.