EastEnders confirms 30th anniversary week programmes, including Graham Norton special

EastEnders has announced its schedule for the 30th anniversary week and is making the very first episode of the BBC1 soap available on BBC iPlayer and the Red Button.

In the first visit to Albert Square, the fate of missing resident Reg Cox is revealed to Den, Arthur and Ali when they break into his flat and Dr Legg is quickly called to the scene. Meanwhile, Pauline and Arthur reveal a secret to Lou and Nick Cotton causes trouble in the Queen Vic. A very young Ian Beale and Sharon Watts feature in the episode which first screened on February 19, 1985.

As well, the anniversary week will feature a Graham Norton special and a live aftermath show on Friday.

EASTENDERS LIVE WEEK SCHEDULE:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16 at 10.45pm: The Graham Norton Show EastEnders special, with special guests June Brown, Pam St Clement, Adam Woodyatt, Letitia Dean, Kellie Bright, John Altman, Richard Blackwood, Jessie Wallace, Shane Richie and Danny Dyer.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 at 7.30pm: EastEnders (30’) with live inserts

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 at 8pm: EastEnders (30’) with live inserts

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 at 7.30pm: EastEnders (60’) with live inserts

THURSDAY at 9.30pm: Flashback episode (30’) with live inserts

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 at 8pm: EastEnders fully live episode (30’)

FRIDAY at 8.30pm EastEnders: Backstage Live with Zoe Ball, Ore Oduba and Joe Swash (with a live switchover to BBC Three at 9pm)

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.