EastEnders taken off air next week in huge BBC schedule shake-up

18 August 2023 , 19:35

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EastEnders taken off air next week in huge BBC schedule shake-up

EastEnders will not air at its usual time next week as BBC One makes way for live World Athletics coverage.

The BBC soap is usually scheduled to air from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm but, the latest instalment of Walford drama will not air on Monday or Wednesday. However, despite the schedule shake-up, EastEnders fans will not miss out on their Albert square fix.

Two half-an-hour episodes will air back-to-back at an earlier slot of 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday while the schedule change will not affect the regular BBC iPlayer 6am uploads with episodes continuing to land on Monday to Thursday to allow audiences to watch the programme wherever or whenever it suits them.

On Monday live coverage of the world Athletics Championships, which are being held in Budapest, Hungary airs on BBC One from 7.30pm to 9pm before continuing at 8pm on Tuesday, 7pm on Wednesday and 8pm on Thursday.

Anna will continue to try and track down her mum next week (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Next week, Anna Knight's quest to find her mum continues as she finally tells George Knight that she's got her mum's number, with the help of Freddie Slater's encouragement. After finally receiving her father's blessing, Anna calls her mum and leaves her a message explaining she's in Walford and misses her every day.

EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness

After being ignored, Anna sends a scathing text to her mum. In France, Peter intercepts the text and after speaking to his dad Ian Beale, learns he has two sisters. Ian deletes the message and begs his son not to tell Cindy Beale the truth about her daughter's cry for help. Peter agrees but heads to Walford determined to meet his two sisters.

Will Peter let slip his true identity when he comes face-to-face with his two sisters? EastEnders fans will know Peter's half-brother Bobby Beale has developed feelings for Anna, who is the daughter of long-lost Cindy, who is also the mother of Bobby's brother Peter and his late siblings Steven and Lucy.

There is no biological relationship between Anna and Bobby, however the complicated situation is sure to make Peter feel uncomfortable when he returns to Albert Square.

Charlotte McIntyre