EASTENDERS fans have been left fuming after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s lockdown announcement delayed the BBC One Soap.
The last episode saw Linda learn about paedophile Katy abusing her husband Mick as a child, and viewers were excited for the fallout at 8.05pm tonight – but it has now been pushed back by half an hour.
Instead, the Beeb will air the PM’s latest conference on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic at 8pm – with Johnson expected to announce another national lockdown.
EastEnders have confirmed that tonight’s episode will now air at 8.35pm, saying in a statement: “Due to the PM statement at 8pm (with BBC News Specials either side) tonight’s EastEnders is due to air at the later time of 8:35pm”.
Last week, viewers were left in tears when Mick Carter broke down and told his wife about the sexual abuse he’d suffered as a child.
Care home worker Katy had raped Mick when he was just 12 years old – which he’d repressed until he was confronted by Katy’s daughter Frankie, who told him he was her father.
Fans are outraged that they have to wait even longer for the next instalment – anticipating that Linda will confront Katy in an explosive showdown.
Flocking to social media to share their reaction, one wrote: “8pm? Doesn’t Boris Johnson realise the impending Eastenders fireworks between Linda and Katy? Terrible timing. Priorities”.
Another raged: “Address the nation before EastEnders, you ****. Lord knows you’ve had long enough.”
A third agreed: “8pm? He better be addressing the Nation from the Eastenders set.”
One more echoed: “Boris announcement when Eastenders is meant to be on ??? ruined my evening”.
BoJo’s announcement is right before EastEnders. I’m not gonna need to watch EastEnders to put me in a bad mood today, am I?
— katie
(@KatieTruman5) January 4, 2021
8pm? Doesn’t Boris Johnson realise the impending Eastenders fireworks between Linda and Katy? Terrible timing. Priorities
— Wayne (@MrWayneyB) January 4, 2021
PM address at 8pm tonight. That's going to get in the way of EastEnders.
— Mike (@MikeDingDong) January 4, 2021
@BorisJohnson do us all a favour and don’t interrupt eastenders pls clown x
— Lauren Street (@_laurstrx) January 4, 2021
boris announcement when Eastenders is meant to be on ??? ruined my evening
— rubes (@morethanperriee) January 4, 2021
UR TELLING ME EASTENDERS IS GONNA BE DELAYED? https://t.co/DxKQSu3CRo
— Kᴀʏʟᴀ
(@KaylaHarper456) January 4, 2021
The Prime Minister is expected to announce a raft of new measures during this evening’s televised address as the UK continues to battle coronavirus.
A No10 spokesman said: “The spread of the new variant of COVID-19 has led to rapidly escalating case numbers across the country.
“The Prime Minister is clear that further steps must now be taken to arrest this rise and to protect the NHS and save lives. He will set those out this evening.”
