EastEnders recreates iconic Christmas scene from 1986 ahead of BBC soap’s 40th anniversary – but did you spot it?
EASTENDERS recreated an iconic scene from 1986 on Christmas Day – but did you spot it?
Soap fans tuned in on the big day as Cindy Beale’s affair was revealed before she was disowned by her family.
In dramatic scenes Ian threw her out of his house leaving her walking Albert Square in the snowy conditions.
But before she was attacked with a shovel and left for dead, an emotional Ian broke down at his partner’s betrayal yet again.
In a fit of rage and devastation he trashed his living room, sending the Christmas tree flying, flipping the kitchen table and smashing picture frames.
While his mum Kathy was shocked at her son’s anguish, clever EastEnders bosses recreated the scene from 37 tears ago.
In 1986 Ian’s uncle Arthur Fowler suffered a nervous breakdown and smashed up the exact living room.
The character was played by the late Bill Treacher, who sadly died in 2022 aged 92.
Speaking about the nod to the past, EastEnders’ executive producer Chris Clenshaw said: “There were nods to the past, nods to previous storylines, even Ian’s breakdown.
“We wanted that to have echoes of Arthur’s breakdown all the way back in 1986, and it was scripted and it was choreographed very similarly.”
BBC producers had choreographed the scene to match the Christmas Day 1986 episode as closely as possible.
Adam Woodyatt told a press conference recently how he was shown the iconic scene on an iPhone for inspiration before cameras started rolling.
Meanwhile, Cindy Beale’s attacker will be unmasked during the soap’s 40th anniversary special.
A whopping nine members of her family are in the frame for her attempted murder.
EastEnders Christmas and New Year schedule
Monday December 23 – 6am iPlayer & 7:30pm BBC One
Tuesday December 24 – 6am iPlayer & 7:45pm BBC One
Christmas Day – 7:30pm & 10:35pm BBC One & iPlayer
Boxing Day – 8:30pm BBC One & iPlayer
Monday December 30 – 6am iPlayer & 7:30pm BBC One
Tuesday December 31 – 6am iPlayer & 7:30pm BBC One
New Year’s Day – 10pm BBC One & iPlayer
Thursday January 2 – 6am iPlayer & 7:30pm BBC One