EASTENDERS cut two moments from the live episode script – with one being “too rude” to air.
One scene showed Sonia going into labour minutes after the Queen Vic exploded.
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She was trapped in the pub with Lauren and Bianca, who realised they’d need to help Sonia deliver the baby.
Bianca didn’t want to check on Sonia, telling Lauren to do it.
The script – which the actors had just hours to learn – orginally saw Bianca telling Lauren “it’s only a fanny!”, but bosses changed the wording at the last minute.
Speaking on her podcast, Off The Telly, actress Natalie Cassidy said they decided “it’s only a noonie” was more appropriate.
Natalie also spoke to Kellie Bright who revealed Linda was supposed to toss a coin in the dramatic live show scene where Denise chose between love interests Jack and Ravi – until she persuaded bosses she was too terrified she’d mess it up.
The love triangle decision – which was ultimately decided by a viewer vote – saw Kelly’s character Linda Carter giving Denise advice over whether to forge her future with ex-husband Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) or Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).
The soap’s scriptwriters had penned Linda saying ‘Why not toss a coin’ before going ahead and doing it.
But Kellie has now revealed that because the show was being beamed to the nation live – and she is hopeless at flipping coins – she was terrified her nerves would make her embarrass herself in front of millions of viewers.
Kellie, speaking to Joanna Page and Natalie Cassidy – who bowed out of EastEnders after the 40th anniversary week – on their Off The Telly podcast, said: “I was supposed to flip a coin in that scene.
“So when we first got the script, I take out a coin – because it’s all about Denise making her decision.
EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy hints Sonia Fowler will die in explosive live episode
“And so I say ‘why don’t you toss a coin?’ and I was supposed to then go on and toss the coin, catch the coin, and she then puts her hand over my hand before I call it to say ‘No, I know what I want to do’.”
But after learning of the plan, Kellie begged show bosses to spare her having to toss and catch the coin as if she messed it up and dropped it there would have been no chance of a second take with it going out live.
Kellie, 48, said: “I just went ‘Er, no, just no, don’t do that to me – please don’t’.
“I can’t toss a coin for a toffee anyway. And I just thought ‘My hands would be sweaty, shaking, there is no way.
“And so I suggested that she just stop me just before I toss a coin – and thankfully they let me (do that).
“But I was like ‘I can’t do that – I can’t do that live’. Even if we were recording that I’d probably have to do it ten times.”
Kellie still took extra back-up precautions in case she fumbled the coin or it ended up on the floor.
She added: “I had three 50p’s in my pocket in case one fell on the floor.”
In the end Denise, played by Diane Parish, decided to carry on with Jack, but that outcome was decided by a viewer vote in the lead-up to last Thursday’s live episode – a first in the show’s history.
As the aftermath of the Queen Vic pub’s explosion played out on screen, Denise was shown knocking on the door of a house.
The door opened to reveal her ex-husband Jack, who she was married to from 2021 until 2024, standing behind the door, looking surprised to see her.
As she walked into the house, Ravi left his own home and watched on, looking shocked and devastated.
Upon reuniting with Jack, Denise declared her love for him as she begged him to give their relationship another try.
She said: “I feel safe with you, Jack. I want to feel safe. Ravi and me… it’d never go anywhere. We’re from two different worlds.
“I see a future with you Jack. Our history, that runs deep. My feelings haven’t changed, I still love you.”
The pair then sealed their reunion with a passionate kiss.
