EASTENDERS: Who DOESN'T know, that's the question!

How epic was Monday night's EastEnders!

Gasps occurred from our living room as Max jumped the dock, and punched DC Bryant, after being found (wrongly!) guilty for killing Lucy Beale.
It was the first time in a long while that a 'doof doof' genuinely shocked me, and I loved it!

Last night saw Max return to the Square - possibly like a Ninja - as he managed to duck and dive away from many a Walford cop on his route to the Beale's house...
Before I get more into that, I wasn't too surprised that Phil had actually done the dirty on both Jane and Sharon, but paying the foreman off to find poor Ninja Max guilty, instead of not. It's always been about faaaaamily for the Mitchell's, and even though Phil has never been Max's number 1, I think he did this to get any possible leftover-light shone on his son, Ben, who was also arrested for Lucy's murder not-so long ago. Phil also did a good job in scaring Lauren into keeping schtum about Bobby being the killer... So for now no-one else knows.

Well - apart from Ian, Jane, Sharon, Phil, Lauren, Peter, Cindy, Liam - and soon to be convicted Max himself!
Yep, as Max arrived at the Beale's last night, he will on Thursday confront Jane about why she gave him the alibi. Did Jane not think that Max, even if he were found NOT guilty, wouldn't wonder why she admitted to an untrue night-of-passion with him?

Anyhow, Max will correctly guess that Bobby is the killer!
Yep, so that will be nine Albert Square residents knowing the truth (not forgetting that Mick Carter also had a wobble that Ian knew more than he was letting on).
But will Jane admit this to Max, especially as she's now concluded that when Max's is found by the police after his Ninja stint, that it'll be best for him to serve time for a crime he didn't commit.
Let's face it, if Max's right guess is confirmed by Jane, then he'll surely not keep quiet. Would you?

But, he might also find out that his daughter also knew the truth and allowed his trial to continue. That, in Max's eyes would be unforgivable.

As Jake Wood bows out from EastEnders this week, taking a year out, we've been promised that the rest of this week's unmissable episode will lead to him going with a bang - along with daughter Lauren, who will return in the new year - his sister, Carol, who's leaving with her son Robbie, who I'm loving on his return by the way!

The four are said to not be leaving quietly, but how will they go?

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EASTENDERS: Max knows who?

EastEnders has really lift the lid on Lucy's murder storyline once again, even more than we could have imagined.
With last week's twists and turns, by Friday it could've been an easy guess that Max Branning would be the unlucky EastEnder to be charged with her murder. And he was...

I love how the writers have managed to make it such uneasy viewing. That's really clever. It's awkward, as we watch the Beale's watch Max in court, knowing he's innocent. Phil's digs about it in Ian's ear making him (and us) squirm even more.
Then there's Abi. Always a daddy's girl, until now, who also knows that she's lied about Max pressuring her to keep quiet about his whereabouts on Good Friday 2014. Ab's really wants to be a Mitchell, but even Mitchell's by marriage aren't really Mitchell's. Phil still keeps Sharon at arms length when needs be, and he's known and loved her for years, regardless of them now being man and wife. Sharon was a Mitchell with Grant and now a Mitchell again, but when it comes down to it, Mitchell blood is always thicker. This was even proved with Billy turning Jay in last night, even if it was for selfish reasons to keep Lola.

Which, by the way, I don't think was a great exit. Lola and Jay were meant to be in new young love, and she's just gone to Newcastle, leaving him in Walford nick, not even checking he's okay or when he will be released? It seemed rushed, in my opinion, and the character deserved a more fitting exit than one slapped in the middle of an already charged episode. #JustSaying.

Back to Max, however, and it looks like right now, he's only got Stacey on his side. Even Carol didn't go to see him in court and has a niggling doubt.
Ian and Jane need to be careful, too, as they don't seem angered or shocked enough that their Lucy's killer has supposedly been found. I think this is a clever quip from the story team, too, because it's keeping us wondering if one of them will crumble. As a viewer, who knows the whole story, they're not acting right, so to characters who don't know the full shebang, especially the people of the Square who are really clued one (Mick Carter being one to already call Ian out...) will surely notice their behavior is a little hit an miss?

Before the 'duff duff' last night, Max called Stacey and pleaded with her that he didn't kill Lucy. We know that, Stacey believes that, but what we weren't bargaining for was the line 'but I know who did'.
Who Max? Who?
Of course we know it was Bobby the Staircase-Boy, but does Max?

It's all in his eyes... and the things he hears on the stairs...

This is the clever thing with Max, because he might well think he knows who murdered Lucy, but he'd also not think twice about framing someone else, either. Especially after being back-stabbed by his own daughter.
It was an unfortunate twist of fate that caused Lucy's blood to be on Max's shoes, and word online is saying that he might believe Abi did it. Or did he see more than we realise on the night Lucy was killed by her brother? Does Max think Jane did it?
I guess we'll find out tomorrow, but Stacey will help Max, that is a given. He helped her escape when she admitted killing Archie, so she owes a lot to Max, not to mention their history together.

I'm enjoying the way that EastEnders are getting viewers excited about the Lucy case again, even though all the secrets have now been told (we think!).
What's more is Bobby and his creepy, innocent-but-not-so-innocent, look. Shouting 'Die Die Die' at the computer game, in the exact spot his sister died, just as Ian came home was a stroke of genius. Then his 'have I said something wrong?' when mentioning going to University one day... The little actor, Eliot Carrington, who plays him is doing a great job. 

As I keep saying, whether it's through overhearing conversations, or in a premeditated way, Bobby the Staircase-Boy knows more than the Beale's think!

ALL ABOUT THE LUCY STORY

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EASTENDERS - The Week After The Week Before...

That's it... 

We know that Bobby Beale killed his sister, Lucy. 

I haven't blogged since Wednesday, when I was sticking to my theory about Peter having caused Lucy to die, without realising it, and Jane covering for her step-son. 

I still think my theory would've been heart-wrenching and true - and when Bobby was revealed, I felt a little heart-sunk at first, if I'm honest. 

That changed after Friday's episode. The fully live one. 

The performances by Laurie Brett and Adam Woodyatt were stunning and you would have been forgiven to have forgotten that it was live. 

As the episode unravelled, it became clear why Jane had gone to such lengths and left Lucy on Walford Common. She knew, from what Bobby had told her, that he attacked Lucy without being provoked - hence Emma's 'it's still murder' line. 

Yes he's a child, but he wanted to cause his sister harm. He wanted to stop her from upsetting people and he would have been punished, imprisoned, if Jane had called the police. 

The way that the EE story team have decided that Bobby is unaware he killed his sister has given light to a new storyline for way in the future, Way, way in the future... EastEnders 40th, anyone?! 

People have questioned about whether Bobby would buy Jane's story that Lucy went out and was killed by someone else. Of course he would, children believe their parents every word. And Jane took him away very soon after, shielding  and protecting him. Maybe even telling him to never mention the fact that he hit his sister?

It's also a nice touch how Peter will leave the Square now, after promising to never forgive his family. Peter said himself that he will 'kill him' [Bobby, that is] so he definitely couldn't ever reunite with his younger sibling.
But will he be able to stay quiet? Surely Lauren will want to know what he discovered? And Mick Carter... Ian told him that he knew who had killed Lucy, before finding out the real truth. 

It's also been revealed that an innocent party will be arrested for Lucy's murder in the not too distant future, so this story is far from over. 

Will Jane and Ian really be able to keep quiet for their son? 

Jane, yes. 

Ian - I'm not so sure... 

In other news... 

She's alive! ALIVE!

She's baaaaccckkkk! 

I can't tell you the squealing that came from my sofa as Kathy Beale stepped out of that cab to meet Phil. 

'It's Grant, he's back...' I laughed just moments before. Talk about a jaw-dropper. 

So many questions - where's she been? Did Phil find out about this during his time in prison? Was it Witness Protection? Or did Phil know all along? 

More importantly, where does this leave the Roscoe boys, in Hollyoaks?! 

Dominic Treadwell-Collins has sad that Kathy's coming home, for good, so these questions will surely all be answered (well apart from the Roscoe/Hollyoaks one - unless it WAS witness protection and Sandy was Kathy's cover!!) 

I can't wait to see how her return affects Ben, Ian and Phil and Sharon's marriage. 

Peggy's line about 'how this will affect Sharon', makes complete sense, now. 

Elsewhere, poor Dot's had herself locked up for killing Nick, as we knew would happen. Poor Kush didn't know what to do, and I loved the sense of protection and community as everyone involved in finding Nick's body (apart from Martin and Kush!) agreed to keep quiet, and dispose of Nick, for Dot's sake. 

I also loved the connection between Stacey and Martin. New couple alert! 

And with Kim having given birth to baby Pearl (nice touch, Enders... Pearl - 30 years) and newcomer Vincent looking on, is he the dad? And just where does he know Ronnie from? There must be a romantic link following their kiss in the flashback ep, which would have put him in the right place to meet Kim before they scurried off on their cruise ship... 

Then there's Dean Wicks. 

Mick ain't killed him, even if a body does show up in a burnt out car. And if it is Dean's body, my bet is someone else done it... 

Would there really be another murder, so soon?

Hmm, well... It is Walford! 

What did you think of last week's special episodes?

ALL ABOUT THE LUCY STORY

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EASTENDERS - The panic before the storm...

Live night two was just a brilliant as night one.

There were more live scenes, and not to ficus on it, but when poor Jo Joyner called 'Ian' by his real name 'Adam' - her little face was a picture!
It made it all the more real and all the more fun...

This morning, however, I'm 99.9% confused about who killed Lucy.

All week I've stuck by my theory, and I still am, in a sense, because that's all I can do! So many people are throwing different names into the frame now, and each one I hear makes me wonder more...

The latest one is what Phil had wanted to tell Ian, before Ben came in. Did Phil hear something in prison about Lucy - and Jake is involved.
It's plausible, as Jamie Lomas is making a return for tonight's flashback epsode...

Another is Bobby, even though he's not on the suspect list. Jane covered for him. Hence her guilt.
I still think Jane would cover for Peter, though, too.

Does Ian look guilty? 

As the *duff duff* ended on Ian's face, as Peter announced that Lauren had told him Lucy was killed at home - and it must of been 'one of you' to Jane and Ian - that settles me into thinking it's definitely NOT Ian. Not that I ever thought it would be anyway... It would take too much away from the emotion of the scenes after Lucy was discovered dead.

Cindy is another name in the frame - but she was heavily pregnant at the time of Lucy's death, and I think she's a little red herring.

The producers had this storyline in preparation for well over a year before it even aired, and Cindy was a minute character then. Whoever killed her was a big character then... in their thoughts and changed only once in the very, very early days of planning this story. Since those early days, the murderer was locked in and not changed.

By this time tomorrow, we will know - and there will be a hurrah of people saying they 'knew it'! As much as I hope my theory totally matches that of the EastEnders team - I also  hope it's wrong - as I was the shock.

If it IS right, and matches the story - I'll be banging on the Elstree doors for a full-time job on their team, that's for sure!!

...Also, other big things to look out for on tonight's anniversary spectacular are the opening of tonight's 7.30pm ep. The sounds will be those exactly of the very first episode from exactly 30-years ago, as Nick Cotton's body is discovered in the same place as Reg Cox's was. Homage at its best!

Will Dean really do it ? And how far will Mick go to protect his family?

Dean is also about to return and holds poor Nancy hostage in The Vic cellar, threatening to set the pub alight, in revenge for Linda, rightly, reporting him for raping her. Mick soon discovers his daughter at the hands of his half-brother. How far will Mick go to protect his family?

Then - at 9.25pm there's the special flashback episode, where we will follow Lucy's final moments. It's said to be 'different' and have a film-type look.

There will also apparently be live elements in this flashback ep, so maybe Lucy's killer won't be revealed until the very final moment tonight - and the hour-special will be focusing more on paying respect to EastEnders' 30-years and whittling down suspects?

That means there's only 12-hours til we'll definitely know.

On that note - Happy Birthday EastEnders!

Looking forward to the next 30!

MY WHO KILLED LUCY THEORY...

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EASTENDERS - Lauren cracks the case?

Two weeks is all we have until we get the biggest soap murder conclusion EVER. Yes, I went there, I said EVER.

And for me, it is. It's been the mystery of all soap murders and I've loved every second. So much so, that my theories have changed and changed, until I finally came up with the big one. And that is the one I'm sticking with. Read all about it here, if you haven't already!

Anyhow, tonight's show brings us closer to the reveal, and seals my theory a little more, I like to believe, as Lauren finds a vital clue. The missing piece of paper from Emma's case file. The same case file which lead the tragic cop to meet with Lucy's killer (or Jane, in my theory's case).

Lauren starts off on cloud 9, engaged to Peter and looking to the future. But it's when she returns home that she finds the evidence and her face says it all...

Shock. Shock. Horror. Horror. 

When Lauren realises what the evidence means, it leaves her cold. It's also been revealed that she turns to Stacey for help. Lauren has done this before, when wanting to get through to Max, but Stacey calls the police about Lauren's discovery. Surely, after Max helped her to escape when she was revealed as Archie's killer, Stacey wouldn't hand him in so easy?

Lauren also leaves a used pregnancy test behind at Stacey's. 

Is she expecting Peter's baby? And if so - and she's realised he caused Lucy's death, what will she want to do?

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EASTENDERS - Lucy flashback episode is underway...

These are some of the 'papped' pictures from the Lucy Beale flashback episode. 

Lucy is seen talking to Jay Brown in a park area, and on the bus, where we know he followed Lucy off before her death. 

Hetti Bywater has returned to film Lucy's flashback episode

It looks as though Jay follows Lucy after their bus ride

Also pictures filming on location for the episode is Lucy's twin Peter - who I've backed as the one who caused her death - (for now!)

Peter is seen near a mysterious car, with who looks like Jake Stone in the drivers seat. 

Is Peter talking to the drug supplier, who he bought Lucy's cocaine from?

I also think that I spotted the back of Lauren Branning and Jane Beale, also on location in the picture below. 

Who DID kill Lucy?

Of course, some of the scenes may be filmed as red herrings for even the cast - as Lucy's killer will remain secret even to them until nearly the final moment of the reveal. 

Keep your eyes peeled, I reckon!

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EASTENDERS - My near-final Lucy Beale theory...

Last night's NTA's bought us a clue from EastEnders pointing towards Lucy Beale's murder mystery. 

That clue was 'This is the last thing Lucy Beale heard' and inside the locked safe-box was Lucy's musical jewellery box, where she hid her drugs and the same box that was given to a charity shop after Lucy's death, lastly seen wrapped as a present to baby Beth round the Beale's Christmas tree...

So - what does this tell us?

Lots of speculation online is pointing to Lucy being murdered in the Beale household - and fingers are pointing towards Jane. Of course, she hid the phone and purse under the Beale living room floorboards, instead of destroying them after Ben and Jay confessed to burying them in the allotment.

People online are thinking that maybe Jane confronted Lucy, and accidentally killed her. There are far too many ideas to put in just one paragraph, so I'm going to break my own theory down... 

Lucy died at home - but she might not have been killed there...

We know that her body was moved to Walford Common. We can now imagine that because the music box was the last thing Lucy heard, she died in her bedroom, at home. Hence the speculation about Jane being her killer. 

I'm going to think outside of the box a little bit...

Just because Lucy died at home, doesn't mean that's where the reason of her death occurred.

There were traces of blood, I believe, in the house Stacey now lives with Kat. Jake Stone lived there at the time and was arrested for Lucy's murder because of the evidence. We also know that Lucy and Jake shared a cab home. So she ended up in the house. But, her blood could have come from where she hit her head in Max's port-a-cabin - so that's a dead end. 

I think that whoever wanted to hurt Lucy did so outside of the Beale house. Lucy managed to get home and died there, because of her injuries...

Who moved her body?

So Lucy wasn't meant to have been killed. Whoever did it, did it accidentally. We know this from Emma telling the killer, when she met them, that 'it doesn't matter, it's still murder.' So, the killer, or someone close to them, was trying to justify their actions. 

The two main suspects, buzzing round online, are Jane Beale and Abi Branning.

Me? I've thought about it and I'm highlighting Peter...

Max and Abi know something about what happened on Good Friday, but I'm not sold 100% that Abi did it, nor am I about Jane. 

But I do think that someone found Lucy's body, music box still playing, and moved her to the Common to help whoever the killer is. 

I think that Jane knows the killer, and helped them... But it's not her!

My number one theory: 

Someone (who I'm not too sure on yet) but I'm swaying towards Peter, hurt Lucy, causing her fatal injury. Maybe Jane witnessed this looking out of the Masood house window, where she also saw Lauren not go in to the Beale home.

After watching Lucy go into the house, Jane too goes over to see if she's okay following the altercation she witnessed, finds her lifeless, and for some reason moves her body... Implicating her - (remember her guilty conversation with Masood after Lucy's body was found?) and hence her hiding the phone and purse, and not sticking around for Lucy's funeral.

It also answers Peter's desperate attempt to get hold of Lucy the day her body was found. He knows they fought and he injured her - but where was she? His reaction when Ian told him that his sister was dead, I can imagine was true to how a twin would be. Devastated. But, it's always struck me just how emotive that scene was... And it was for a reason.

Emma then realised that it only took five minutes for something so terrible to happen, after Dean's exclamation in the Vic about Patrick falling over. Emma assumed that the killer was Jane, and called her out. Jane wanted to meet, to explain, to which, we know, Emma agreed. 'It's still murder...' and the text she sent (I believe to Jane) 'I can't keep the secret...' before she died, herself, of a similar injury to Lucy. (Ironic?) So Jane explained what she saw Peter (my main suspect at the moment) do, and how she moved Lucy to protect him. Emma was telling Jane, that even though Peter didn't mean to - he still caused her death - and she couldn't keep it secret.

As for Max and Abi - Abi helped Max get rid of traces of Lucy's blood from where she hit her head in the port-a-cabin, that's it. But Abi knows more... 

She's done some twisted things to Lauren (scary mask, anyone?) and is a tad unhinged at the moment. I wonder if this all stems from her either seeing Jane move Lucy's body to the car or from her walking into the Beale's house to confront Lucy head-on over her affair with Max, and saw Jane standing over Lucy and believes that Jane killed her?

Abi bought the music box from the charity shop, and put it under the tree, knowing that Jane would be freaked out? Abi's just a messed up teen at the moment. She's not a killer...

What do you think of my newest theory?

In no doubt, over the next month I'll change my mind again, and I'm enjoying hearing the theories of others online... But for now, I'm sticking with this one!

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EASTENDERS - Looking ahead to LIVE...

In just over a month's time, EastEnders will be taking us on a week long Live spectacular, so I thought I'd round up a couple of things we have to look forward to, along with some speculation rumours on what we can all expect.

Lucy reveal:

As we all know too well, Lucy Beale's killer will be revealed on the full Live episode on Thursday 19th February.

I thought that I'd start with the Lucy plot as it's the one that everyone's waiting for. The 19th will also be Jane and Ian's wedding day, and with the two of them also being in the group of remaining suspects - could the confession come from one of them, or will a guest ruin the Wedding party atmosphere?
Of course, just because the killer is revealed, it doesn't mean other characters in the show will find out - it might just be a case that we find out as a viewer.
I'm still at a loss at who's guilty and everyone I speak to has a different theory and not one is picking the same person as the culprit.
Time will tell!

Favorite returnees:

Peggy Mitchell is coming home - yay! And some have speculated that it will be for Ronnie's FUNERAL? Now, personally, I doubt they would bring the amazing New Year's Day episode all this way, just to kill Ronnie off while she lay in a coma. She's gonna survive - she's got to!
Also announced this weekend is the return of Jo Joyner as Tanya Branning, for Live Week, as Tan is coming home for her best pal, Jane's, wedding. Tanya is another of my favorite characters, and Jo is one of my pick of the best actresses out there, so her come back is most welcomed by me.

Jo Joyner is returning as Tanya Branning

I have a theory here, too. I was swaying towards Abi as Lucy's killer, but I'm now wondering if it's all too obvious right now. Something happened between Abi and Lucy on the night she died, and Max knows (and was maybe involved in helping his daughter keep schtum). It's also something that they don't want the police to know, as it could make Abi look guilty (or guiltier!). Abi will confess to her mum about what she and Max have been hiding - but Tanya will also be the person confessed to by Lucy's murderer. Jane? That's one of my newest theories, anyway!

Dot's a killer mum:

Moving on from Lucy - it's also been speculated this weekend that Dot will have enough of her son, Nick, once and for all. She is said to kill him after finally becoming tired of his abusive behavior.

Will Dot really kill her own son?

The Anniversary Week is said to be kicking off with a new storyline that will see Dot standing trial for murdering Nick and will include many twists before all the facts surrounding Nick's death come to light.
We know that Nick is the one responsible for the New Year crash which has left Ronnie fighting for life, Emma Summerhayes dead and Phil Mitchell banged up for murder and attempted murder. If the storyline is true, that may just rule out a Beale being Lucy's murderer, as that would mean Walford is the home of two people who have each killed a family member. (Again, just another of my many theores!)
Each time Nick returns home to his 'Ma', it leaves me wondering what he'll do next, so will EastEnders really get rid if their ultimate Nasty once and for all?
An EastEnders spokesperson is said to have refused to comment, which may mean it's truer than it is false.
All I know is that:
1. Dot wouldn't outright kill anyone, especially not her Nick, so these said twists may prove her innocence. And...
2. With the speculation about a Beale killing Lucy and Dot killing her son - you would never see a Mitchell harming one of their own. Unless you're Grant, pushing your brother into a garage pit hole!

Lots of Lives:

With the full live episode and the live scenes in each ep that week, it really will be a soap spectacular, not to be missed! The actors have already received their Live Week scripts, as Maddy Hill, who plays Nancy Carter has said that she has 'quite a bit' in the live show, with the promise that there's a big plot ahead for her in the lead up.

I'm sure over the coming weeks, there will be more revealed about what's going to occur, and whether there are going to be anymore exciting returnees.

What are you most looking forward to about Live week?

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EASTENDERS - Lucy: BIGGEST clue yet?

Eagle-eyed fans online have possibly sussed what could be THE biggest clue to date in the Lucy Beale murder mystery.

Think back to that amazing Children In Need special, where Lucy visited her dad Ian, as he tried to complete a crossword puzzle. Ian was confronted by ghosts of his past, including Pat Butcher, ex-wife Cindy and of course his murdered daughter. 

Both Ian and Denise were the only two still-living characters in the sketch - but it's neither of them who the armchair detectives have accused on Twitter. 

At the end of the sketch, Ian asked Lucy who killed her - but instead of answering his question, she instead told her dad that she had finished his crossword for him... She had written 'I LOVE YOU'.

But check out what was written underneath, in a puzzled way...

Can you see? It says 'LEE STOP IT!'

Could this be a message from beyond Walford's graves? Could Lee Carter, who's shown his violent temper in recent weeks, really be Lucy's killer?

I doubt that the EastEnders bosses would give such an almighty clue, knowing that it possibly could be rumbled by arm-chair detectives. But it certainly is food for thought...

What do you all think?

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EastEnders - Lucy's back in - (well) - a flashback special!

I'm still recovering from the fabulous New Years Day episode, and the guys and girls at 'Enders have decided to throw yet more excitement our way!

EastEnders have now revealed that they're set to welcome back a few old characters in what's set to be the 'pearl' in their anniversary week episodes.

The special ep will be a flashback to Good Friday and will reveal what happened to Lucy on the night she was killed and why - filling in the many blanks we all have! 

Hetti Bywater, who played Lucy, Jamie Lomas, who was Jake Stone and Tanya Franks, who plays Rainie Cross are all returning to their roles so that every aspect of Good Friday night are shown. 

As we already know, Rainie was paid by Lucy's dad, Ian Beale, for sex that night - after an almighty row with his daughter. Jake Stone, who Lucy's best mate Lauren Branning had a fling with, after meeting at an alcohol counselling meeting, also shared a taxi with Lucy on the night she was killed.

Speaking of her return as Lucy, Hetti Bywater said: "It's great to be part of the conclusion and find out what really happened the night Lucy Beale died."

Jamie Lomas commented: "It is an honour and a privilege to be part of the 30th anniversary celebrations. It was always part of the plan between Dominic and myself that I would come back for this special episode that will fill the blanks in for the viewers. I always loved my time atEastEnders so I can't wait to get back and start filming these scenes."

Tanya Franks added: "It's fab to be back celebrating the 30th anniversary of EastEnders. Where have the last three decades gone?! So, if you want to find out if Rainie was really with Ian Beale on the night Lucy Beale died, then all will be revealed!"

The episode will be written by Jesse O'Mahoney, who was also responsible for last year's Good Friday ep, which saw Lucy's lifeless body left on Walford Common after she walked off into the night...

EastEnders' executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins explained: 

"When we first created the 'Who Killed Lucy Beale?' storyline, we knew that we had to flash back to the night that she died on screen. So much happened on Good Friday 2014 after viewers saw Lucy leave her home and walk off into the night – and this flashback episode will fill in the pieces for the rest of that night, before she was killed. This also gives us the opportunity to have some fun with other characters, with new twists appearing in old storylines as secrets from the year before are revealed. With the added live element for some scenes, this is going to be an extremely special episode and the pearl within our week of celebratory episodes for EastEnders' 30th birthday."

Because the episode will be broadcast during Anniversary Week, which will also see Peggy Mitchell return, some aspects will be pre-recorded, and others will be live - with a main live whole episode also being aired during that week, which I'm presuming will included the reveal of Lucy's murderer. 

Only just over six weeks to go!

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EASTENDERS - The Speed Picks Up for Lucy

It's almost December, which means there's just over three months until EastEnders' 30th birthday and the reveal of all reveals - Who Killed Lucy Beale...

Now, we know that over the Christmas and New Year period, it will be made clear who didn't do it, so keep your eyes peeled. We also know that following Denise's crucial discovery of Lucy's phone and purse last night, which we know were buried by Jay and Ben, that more secrets are set to tumble out.

Ben will apparently make a confession and Lee Carter, while watching a video of Good Friday's party on Lola's phone, will lead him to realise that someone lied about their alibi and whereabouts on the night Lucy was killed.

My conclusion: Whitney lied? She's Lee's girlfriend, so the one person who he'd be concerned about telling porkies. He also know's that Whitney and Lucy weren't the best of mates leading up to her death.
As for Ben...maybe he went to mug someone that evening of Good Friday, as we know he and Jay were robbing an off license, and realised afterwards that the person he attacked was Lucy? In a panic, once finding out that Lucy was found dead, Jay and Ben came up with the plan to hide the belongings they stole from her... Hence Jay's secret calls to Ben at the time.

Online whispers are that Lola killed Lucy (why?) or maybe Abi (possibly, but she and Max already have something to hide about that night...) as they're the only two people that Ben, and most definitely Jay, would cover for.
Others are saying Lee - but I don't think it'll be a Carter - they have enough upset and drama going on to bring them full throttle into Lucy's story, in my opinion.

As I've said before, any of the obvious ones I doubt it'll be.

Jane is an interesting one. Ben Hardy, who plays Peter Beale, thinks Jane or Ian (accidentally) could both be good suspects as the culprit.

I don't think it's Ian. I'll be disappointed if so, as a very good part of this storyline has been the effect Lucy's loss has had on Ian and his family. And I also don't see how or why Ian would kill his daughter, accidentally or not. This also goes for Peter. Yes, there may have been jealousy in Twindom, but by no means do I think it would have led to Lucy being left on Walford Common. If anything, I'd imagine both Ian and Peter having crumbled by now and confessed. The shot when Ian broke the news about Lucy to Peter - the silence in the Square, and Peter's pained response - was, surely, too beautiful a scene to then have a reveal that it was one of these who killed her.

Back to Jane, however... As much as I don't see why she'd want to do it, maybe something happened off-screen to cause it? She's not high on my list of suspects, but who is? I'm still at a loss with a stand out murderer, but I do believe that we should be looking out now for little lines, looks and clues which could point us in the right direction.

Remember that Dominic Treadwell-Collins has already said that the person who killed Lucy doesn't necessarily have to be caught and punished. So it really could be anyone - and not just somebody easily disposed or leaving the soap.

We might find out who did it in February, but Ian and his family might be kept in the dark for a little longer.

Are you any nearer to guessing Who Killed Lucy Beale?

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EASTENDERS - Do you believe that Jane killed Lucy?

So, yesterday, Ladbrokes announced that all bets are off in regard to who killed Lucy Beale in EastEnders.

A female customer placed 25 bets on Jane Beale being her murderer, and in a matter of hours, odds collapsed on Jane from 16/1 to 2/1...

Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: ‘We smell a rat and have been forced to suspend betting on the Eastenders whodunit. Our mystery punter’s going to have to wait a while to collect her winnings if she’s right, but for the time being we’re not prepared to take any more bets.’

We won't know who the culprit is until February, with only four people at EastEnders in the know... Even the cast are unaware, and the big 30th anniversary week will be filled with LIVE scenes and a massive LIVE episode.

One thing we've been promised, however, is that the killer has been locked in and will not be changed at any point.

Apparently it will be made very obvious around Christmastime as to who the murderer isn't.

Even Ben Hardy, who plays Lucy's twin, Peter reckons it's Jane...

'I found out some more information that is leading me to believe that it wasn't Peter. I am starting to think the killer could be Jane...' He recently revealed.

If it is Jane, it still doesn't answer why Ben and Jay have Lucy's purse and phone... This lead to speculation online that Lola could be the killer - having gone after Lauren, in a jealous rage over Peter. Remember that the email Lucy answered was in fact meant for Lauren... and both Ben and Jay would take a risk to help Lola, as Ben's the father of Lexi, and Jay secretly harboured feelings for her.

I'm not sure if it's Jane just yet, but with Laurie Brett having returned to EastEnders after finishing Waterloo Road filming, maybe we'll see some more twists in her story. But I do remember a conversation she had with Masood just after Lucy was found, where she was hysterically upset and 'sorry'. Yes, she'd just cheated with Ian in the emotion of it all, so could have been apologising for that, but was there more to it?

Whether or not you're tired of the Who Killed Lucy saga already (as some people are saying), you have to admit that it's keeping everyone talking and wondering...

What are your thoughts?

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EASTENDERS - Secrets of The Bill

Now that we know it's the policeman (who's Emma's fiancee!) following Lauren and Peter, it brings up the subject of why he's stalking them...

The easy option is to think that he believes one of them killed Lucy...but sitting watching the ep last night, my 'detective' mother came up with another theory.

The 'tart' Emma's other half had a fling with was Lucy...

Emma needn't know this, nor anyone else. But Police Stalker does... Maybe he killed her?

Okay, maybe he didn't, as that wouldn't have as big a shock factor as if the culprit was revealed to be Peter, or someone, but we were told that the officers working on the case would also become characters in their own right.

If Lucy was his other woman, then it may still not answer why he's stalking Peter and Lauren - but he could be trying to set them up for a fall?

What do you think?

Elsewhere, Linda Carter is still struggling with recent events and now that Elaine, her mum, has shown up - surely we'll see her reveal the truth?

Elaine (who I hope has a long stint, turning into a permanent role, actually) knows that Linda's behavior is down to Dean. She picked up on it within a matter of moments...and the way she's railroading into getting her daughter back 'to normal' makes me see her as a Peggy Mitchell II.

'I know what the problem is. It's that Dean...' As Linda's horrified face lead us into Duff-Duff-dom.

Part of me thinks that Elaine's going to assume Linda had a fling with Dean, but the other part of me thinks that she knows her daughter so well that she would know this is something Linda would never do to Mick.

Either way, I hope we don't have to wait too long for Dean to get his comeuppance...

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EASTENDERS - Who killed Lucy update!

The big boss has spoken. EastEnders producer, Dominic Treadwell-Collins has revealed that the suspect list in the Lucy Beale murder mystery will soon become much smaller.

In fact, on New Years Day, it will become apparent as to who isn't the culprit.

With the big reveal set to happen in Feburary next year, tying in with the show's 30th birthday, DTC has made it very clear that the anniversary celebration has to be perfect.

He also revealed that the initial killer was changed when they first started planning the story, as it didn't 'come from the heart.'

Dominic told Inside Soap magazine:

"When we first talked about the story, there was one killer - but something did not fit right about that person. It was a very clever idea, but it didn't come from the heart.So Sharon Batten (story producer), Alex Lamb (story producer) Manpreet Dosanjh (script producer) and I locked ourselves away in a hotel room to come up with an alternative killer.
It feels emotionally right, true and very exciting. From that moment it's been locked in, and we would not cheat the audience by changing it now."

As for keeping the plot a secret, Dom said: "The hardest thing is when people have thrown their theories at me and got it right. It's so difficult to keep your cool and pretend not to care."

Hmm... let's put our detective hats back on, shall we?

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EASTENDERS - Changing persons!

By changing persons - I should mean personalities.

We've learnt quite a lot in the two EastEnders episodes so far this week, and some revolve around 'Who killed Lucy Beale' themes while others are things we probably shouldn't care about, but have noticed anyway.

Firstly - as the 'changing persons' theme runs around Patrick Truman - can I just add my congratulations to how fabulous Rudolph Walker's acting has been this week. He played out having Patrick's stroke beautifully heartbreaking and must have touched everyone watching. It actually just went to show just how underused Rudolph has been of late on the show.

Rudoplh Walker made a moving performance as Patrick

Patrick, as we know, found out all about Ian's rendezvous (it's the politest way I could describe it!) with Rainie. This is the first 'changing person.'

Ian showed a glimmer of Phil Mitchell in him, as he shoved Rainie against a wall and threatened her, quite menacingly (for Ian Beale's standards) and it looked as though EastEnders' resident prostitute was quite shaken up.

This could be an important clue towards Lucy's murder. We've never seen Ian lose it quite like that before (remember, this is the man who's been scared of a whole heap of both men and women for the entire time we've known him onscreen!)

So, could Ian have gotten so raged with his daughter on the night she died that he accidentally killed her?

My money (despite me telling all and sundry that I wasn't going to guess until the end of the year!) is that Peter should be the number one suspect so far. I don't know why. It's just the incline I'm getting.

The second 'changing person' was the shock return of Anthony Truman. He had the same face (in fact, he hasn't aged one bit!) but the way he callously left his fad, chucking money at poor Denise, as 'help' to care for his was not in character of the kind doctor we once knew.
Anthony's scenes with Kat also cringed me out a little. It was as though they were still having a secret love affair. I just found it very uncomfortable viewing and not endearing in the slightest.

Anthony looked heartless as he left his dad

Patrick's recovery, we've been told, will be a very slow process. It's horrid to watch him struggle - trying to tell Denise the truth about Ian - who's thrilled, deep down, that Patrick has lost the ability to speak, as it keeps his secret. For now...

There were also rumours yesterday that last week's episode of Lucy's phone and purse being dumped has been taken off BBC iPlayer, as it showed (apparently) the so-called murderer.

An avid viewer has revealed the face in the phone reflection to be JAY...

Now, call me cynical, but I don't think the Enders' bosses would be so slap-dash that they'd make such a silly mistake. If anyone was filmed dumping the phone and purse, it would, surely, be a runner... and not one of the actors - as even they don't know the culprit.

Have your opinions on Who Killed Lucy changed?

And what do you think of Patrick's storyline?

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EASTENDERS - Who's the mystery dumper?

Last night's EastEnders threw me right at the end.

We have seen Billy Mitchell come into the fray, after it was revealed that he argued with Lucy on the night of her murder. Now, I don't believe for one moment Billy's the murderer. For one, it's too early to reveal possible candidates and secondly - it's Billy. As said in the episode - he's done some bad things, he's a bit of a plonker, but he's no murderer.

One interesting thing is the photo's which Billy threw away after Pam Coker found them under his fridge. Billy said that they belonged to Peter - I think this is a lie - so are they Billy's and why did he have them?

The biggest thing, mind you, to come out of last night's show was what I believe to be Lucy's phone and purse... dumped in a hole and covered in soil. Who did that?

More twists in the case of Lucy's murder!

It couldn't have been Billy, surely, as he was with Lola, having just been unofficially forgiven by Ian for lying to the police about arguing with Lucy on the night she was killed.

Was there a reflection in the phone as the camera filmed - if there was - my eagle eyes saw someone with shoulder length hair... Abi Branning?

I keep saying it's too early to make a guess...  But who can help themselves?

The new, vicious police detective has said that the killer should be feeling scared and the nets closing in, so it must be someone who knows that Jake is to be released, and that the police focus is shifting elsewhere... Someone in the Beale clan, maybe? Someone close to the Beale's? Or someone who has overheard a whisper and panicked?

With Ben Mitchell soon to make a return, maybe the forum fans are right and it's him?

What do you all think?

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EASTENDERS - Lucy Beale's murder suspect, Jake, is released from prison

The Beale family are in for a big shock this week, when police inform them that Jake Stone, who is currently on remand for killing Lucy, is about to be released.

Jake is no longer a suspect for Lucy's Murder

The re-arrival of Lee Carter, who exposes some new information about the night of the murder, brings some new twists to the case.

But what does Lee know?

What does Lee reveal - causing Jake's release?

As the police give Ian and the family just trickles of information, it is left to Mick Carter, Lee's dad, to tell Isn exactly what's going on - leaving the grieving dad fuming. 

And while Jake's flatmates Tina and Tosh welcome the ex-alcoholic back with open arms, how will the rest of Walford's residents, especially Jake's old flame, Lauren Branning, take to him coming home?

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EASTENDERS - Lee Carter reveals a Lucy murder secret

Lee Carter returns to Albret Square next week, and with him, reveals something that will shock his entire family.

Making a surprise visit for his mum, Linda's birthday - Lee (after being dressed as a Spice Girl!) has a little too much to drink and mumbles something regarding the night Lucy was murdered.

What does Lee confess?

Lee's dad Mick is shocked to the core to hear his son say about something stupid connected to Ian Beale's daughter.

The next morning, Lee has disappeared,  nowhere to be found following his confession - but once he does come home - he reveals all to his family about what he knows regarding Lucy's death.

And it stuns every single one of them...

Elsewhere - Detective Emma Summerhayes - who is the Beale's family liaison officer, continues her forbidden affair with Max Branning.

Unfortunately for the pair, Max's daughter and Lucy's best friend, Lauren decides to pay her dad a visit to talk about their recent fall out, over Max's affair with Lucy. (Yes - that's a lot of affair's, but hey, it is Max Branning after all!)

Will Lauren catch Emma out and just what will this mean for the case, if so?

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EASTENDERS - A surprise face, a runaway - and even more secrets?

What does Rainie know?

So - what does returnee Rainie Cross want with Ian? Or is that, what does Ian want with Rainie?

Seeing her surprise return last night quietened some of the whispers that the secret 'R' on Ian's phone was indeed Ronnie Mitchell. Those speculators were wrong...

Now it could be that Rainie (who we know has a history of problems with drugs) was the one supplying Lucy with cocaine before her murder.

Some fans are even wondering whether Ian is now on the white stuff himself - but I'm thinking that, maybe, the grieving father and Rainie have history from when Ian was living on the streets?

Either way - it could be one or more of these - actress Tanya Franks who plays Rainie has said on the EastEnders Official Website:

"Let's just say it has something to do with the murder. I'm not saying that I am part of the murder and I am not saying that I am not part of the murder. Rainie does have some involvement with Ian Beale. I'm just going to say that, but keep watching."

Rainie's return may also have consequences for other Walford residents...

How will Cora react if she catches a glimpse of her prodigal daughter?

'Enders fans may also remember that it was Rainie's fling with Phil Mitchell that left him hooked on heroin a few years back...

Will Phil resist Rainie, should she make a play for him once again?

I bet Shirley will be thrilled to see her too, especially as Shirl' will be admitting her true feelings to Phil herself, while Sharon is laid up in hospital!

Talking of Sharon, last night, we saw her get attacked in The Albert, while Johnny Carter hid upstairs, too frightened to help.

This, and the added pressures from his mum, Linda, causes the youngest Carter boy to play runaway next week.

Linda is fussing non-stop around Johnny, and when she interferes with his University tutor after learning that he's failed some of his exams, Johnny goes for revenge.

Johnny's off!

Knowing what a terrible singer his mum is - Johnny sets her up at The Vic's karaoke night - resulting in a blazing row between mother and son.

Johnny has finally had enough - and packs his bags.

Will he return?

I can't help but see all of this merge into one - and with it, spill out yet more secrets revolving around the Lucy Beale murder.

Did the same culprit hurt Sharon? Does Johnny know more than he's saying?

As much as all evidence points towards the sacked doormen, maybe they were a red herring?

How much does Rainie know about the night of Good Friday? As tonight she blackmails Ian, as she's the only one to know his real whereabouts while his daughter was being murdered.

So many questions, with so much speculation!

Remember, this is still only the beginning...

Trust no-one EastEnders fans - absolutely no-one!

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EASTENDERS - Shirley confesses...

This week, Shirley finally does what I've been willing her to do - ooh I don't know - the last year or so?

She tells Phil she still loves him! Hurrah!!

And an even bigger 'hurrah' is that Phil, shocked by these turn of events, confesses that he still has feelings for her, too - this is just all perfect! No?

Well, actually, no... As there is the small issue that Phil's current fiancée and woman-he-can-never-say-no to, Sharon, is still lying in a hospital bed, after a horrifying attack. 

While Phil is keeping a vigil at Sharon's bedside, Shirley stays with him, as support.

As the pair bond, Shirley reveals all about what happened when Mick was born all those years ago. 

Fans will already know that Shirley is Mick's mum and not his sister, as everyone else on the Square believes. 

Phil, being the Mitchell that he is, wants revenge when the full extent of Sharon's attack comes to light, which is when Shirley drops her own bombshell. 

'I luv ya Phil...' (I reckon it goes something like that, anyway!)

The real twist in the tale, however, happens when Shirley badgers Phil into being completely honest with her, too. 

That's when he confesses his feelings. And they're all for our Shirl'! 

What does this mean for the pair? 

And where will it leave Sharon, when and if she wakes up?

LUCY'S KILLER STRIKES AGAIN?

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