EastEnders fans will have to be patient to find out what's in store for Walford this Christmas season.
The soap has scrapped its usual early streaming release for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. This means that the episodes releasing on December 25, December 26 and January 1 will drop on BBC iPlayer at the same time they air on BBC One.
Episodes normally air at 7.30pm on BBC One and become available on iPlayer as early as 6am.
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This festive season, a schedule shakeup means EastEnders will be on with two episodes on Christmas Day, airing at at 7.30pm and 10.35pm. On Boxing Day, the new episodes will air at 8.30pm, while EastEnders will kick off the new year with brand-new scenes broadcasting at 10pm.
Viewers will still be able to watch these episodes on the BBC's streaming platform, but they will have to wait until the show makes it to BBC One first.
What to Read Next
Following last Christmas' big murder mystery, EastEnders has more twists and turns awaiting the residents of Walford.
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Christmas is usually a big occasion in Soapland, and the Square has a few dramatic storylines up its sleeve.
Cindy Beale's affair is set to be exposed in time for Christmas, while the Stacey Slater-Martin Fowler-Ruby Allen love triangle continues.
For New Year's, Eve Unwin and Suki Panesar are set to finally tie the knot, but will the wedding go ahead as Nish's shadow looms large on the couple — and The Six? There's only one way to find out.
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
On Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, new episodes will start streaming on iPlayer in line with the BBC One broadcast.
