EastEnders legend Adam Woodyatt reveals ‘bonkers’ 40th anniversary plans and that it has already been filmed
EASTENDERS legend Adam Woodyatt has revealed ‘bonkers’ 40th anniversary plans – and that it has already been filmed.
The BBC soap is gearing up for its milestone year in February 2025.
EastEnders fans have already been treated to a number of returns from former characters in recent weeks as part of the celebrations.
And now Adam – who has played Ian Beale since the very first episode – has revealed more on what fans can expect from the 40th anniversary.
He said: “Expect everything and a lot more! The anniversary week is just bonkers!
“I think I can safely say for all of us, we picked up the scripts and was like ‘what the f***’ how the hell are we going to do this? And we have!
“Obviously we haven’t done the live element yet but we’ve done all the bits leading up to it and it’s honestly brilliant.”
Meanwhile show boss Chris Clenshaw added: “I can’t say too much. It’s explosive, and we’ve pretty much shot most of it and it’s looking brilliant. Expect everything.”
And speaking about the upcoming Christmas episode which centres around the Beales and the Knights, he added: “I’m thrilled. I think it was important for us, after last year we did a flash forward episode – a format-breaking idea – with the flash forward and The Six.
“I think this year because we are entering our 40th year it was really important to us that it was a classic EastEnders.”
Adam also spoke about being one of the few original cast members still on the show, saying he felt “old”.
But he added: “It’s been really nice actually. We’ve got a lot of building work going on and some of us have had to move dressing rooms and I’ve got moved from near where the sets are to probably about the furthest point away, but I was really, really chuffed because I’m now in Gretchen Franklin’s old dressing room.
“When I started out there was me, Dave Scarboro and Paul Medford, all crammed into a dressing room that isn’t big enough for one person and the dressing rooms upstairs were for the stars.
“That’s where Wendy, and Anna and Gretchen were, so I’ve made it. 40 years it took!”
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.