EastEnders pulled from TV schedules as statement is issued – but there’s a twist

EastEnders has been pulled from the schedules (Picture: BBC)

If you try to tune into EastEnders tonight, you’ll notice that there’s a serious lack of drama on BBC One.

The soap has been pulled from the schedules yet again to make way for – you guessed it – football.

It’s that time of the year again when our slices of Albert Square life are shunted to one side for editions of Match of the Day. We’re still yet to see Walford v Weatherfield appear in the TV guide…

Tonight, between 7.30pm and 10pm, the long-running show will provide live coverage from Brussels of the 2026 World Cup qualifier between Belgium and Wales.

But when can we catchup with the EastEnders?

Luckily, there’s not too much of a change. Today’s episode will air tomorrow, and henceforth for the rest of the week at 7.30pm.

If you can’t wait until then, the instalment is already available to stream.

Junior drops a bombshell (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

The serial confirmed the changes on X, writing: ‘#EastEnders schedule change! This week’s EastEnders will air Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

‘There is no episode tonight. But don’t despair, you can also watch now on @BBCiPlayer.’

You won’t want to miss it either – as a huge new storyline for the Knights kicks off.

Elaine (Harriet Thorpe) is furious after finding out that her husband George (Colin Salmon) helped his ex-wife Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) with the relaunch of her bar The Prince Albert.

She desperately tries to make things right with him, just as Junior (Micah Balfour) bursts in and reveals that on Christmas evening, his dad spent time with his mum Sabrina.

It’s the week of Kat and Alfie’s wedding, but things aren’t going well for them (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

George admits that she tried to kiss him, but he rejected her. An enraged Elaine throws him out, and she’s mortified to see him seeking comfort from Cindy.

Elsewhere, Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) is in disbelief after finding adult content on Alfie Moon’s (Shane Richie) laptop, and confides in Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) that she thinks he’s turned to pornography in the wake of his cancer treatment.

When Alfie cooks a romantic meal, Kat tries to seduce him. Things turn frosty when he tries to slow things down, and she storms out.

Plus, Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) learns that Joel Marshall (Max Murray) has been shaming Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) for sleeping with him, and Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) is upset when life partner Patrick (Rudolph Walker) makes excuses to get out of giving her a massage.

EastEnders returns on TV tomorrow at 7.30pm, stream first on iPlayer now.

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