It’s the soapland stunt we’ve all been waiting for, as The Queen Vic pub was reduced to rubble in last night’s EastEnders.
A horrific series of events caused a number of gas canisters to ignite, with the flames soon engulfing the entire building.
To make matters worse, part of the upper floor began to collapse inwards. With a number of our favourite characters trapped inside, there’s still a shed load of drama to come!
It was – in true Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) style – all her fault.
She had just learnt that former mother-in-law Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) was the one who whacked her over the head with a shovel on Christmas Day, and was preparing to phone the police.
A dramatic showdown ensued in Bridge Street, as Ian (Adam Woodyatt) pleaded with her not to say anything. He even offered his ex-wife a lifetime of financial freedom in exchange for her silence.
Elsewhere, crazed murderer Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) was trying to escape Walford after coming face to face with Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer).
He’d shown up to drop a ‘new baby’ card off for Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy), and then tried to flee again.
Having some issues with his car, he flew around the streets in a desperate attempt to evade justice, with Cindy seeing the vehicle as the perfect opportunity to kill Ian.
As she pushed him out into the road, Reiss swerved and crashed into the barrel store.
Landlord George Knight (Colin Salmon) heard the commotion, and after spotting flames climbing out of the bonnet, he dragged Reiss to safety. It seems that this isn’t the last we’ve seen of the killer, as he soon vanished.
As a few more familiar faces scrambled out, the fire spread further, and it became too late to stop anymore damage.
BOOM.
Honestly, we’re surprised that anybody is alive in the boozer, and in last night’s epic hour-long episode we’ll see the desperate search effort to free everyone.
George teams up with Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) to help make an escape route, whilst newlyweds Billy and Honey Mitchell (Perry Fenwick and Emma Barton) cradle each other inside.
This is going to be a day they never forget!
Suki Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal) comforts teens Nugget, Avani and Denzel (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury, Aaliyah James and Jaden Ladega), with Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) adamant to keep them safe.
Elsewhere, as the pub looks set to give way, Martin Fowler (James Bye) finds step-daughter Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) on the ground and helps her out.
But where is her mum Stacey (Lacey Turner)?
Jean and Freddie Slater (Gillian Wright and Bobby Brazier) are in a state of panic, collapsed on the floor with rubble surrounding them, and Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) makes an attempt to keep everyone calm.
But who will make it out alive? And who dies?
