EastEnders has promised several “bonkers” episodes to mark the soap’s 40th anniversary next year.

The milestone will be celebrated in February 2025 with a week of memorable episodes, including a live broadcast from BBC Elstree Centre.

Speaking to  and other press, executive producer Chris Clenshaw revealed that most of the “explosive” storylines have already been shot, and warned viewers to be prepared for anything. “I can’t say too much. What I will say is it’s explosive,” he said.

“Apart from the live episode, we’ve pretty much shot most of it and it’s looking brilliant. Expect everything.”

“Expect everything and a bit more. Honestly, the anniversary week is just bonkers,” added Adam Woodyatt, who has played Ian Beale since the show’s inception in 1985.

“I think I can safely say for all of us, we picked up the scripts and thought, ‘How the hell are we going to do this?’ And we have. We obviously haven’t done the live element yet, we’ve done all the bits leading up to it, and it’s honestly brilliant.”

In a new twist, the soap is introducing another layer of jeopardy to the live episode by handing over some of the power to the audience, who will decide the outcome of a love story.

Details of which characters will be involved in the storyline are currently being kept under wraps, but the couple’s fate will be placed firmly in the viewers’ hands.

The chosen outcome will then play out during the live episode, with the cast and crew prepared to adapt the scenes to reflect the result of the public vote.

“The 40th anniversary is a milestone event for EastEnders, and we have been planning this week for a long time to ensure that it’s a week full of drama and surprises,” Clenshaw previously said in a statement.

“While we’re still keeping the finite details of the 40th close to our chest, I can promise that it will be an unmissable week full of shocking twists that will change Albert Square, and the lives of those who live in it, forever.”