TWO shocking love triangles will emerge this Christmas, ahead of EastEnders’ 40th anniversary viewer vote.
Cindy Beale and Junior knight’s affair is about to be exposed in EastEnders, changing the Beale and Knight families forever.
Meanwhile, Stacey Slater thinks Martin Fowler and Ruby Allen are back together.
Things are about to get a whole lot more complicated for Cindy when she discovers an incriminating recording detailing her affair with Junior has fallen into the wrong hands.
With the truth threatening to come to light, Cindy does all she can to keep her actions hidden.
But has she done enough to make her blackmailer rethink?
Fearing for her future, Cindy concocts a plan that shocks her family.
Wanting all of his family together on Christmas Day, George extends an invitation for Cindy and the Beale’s to join them at The Vic for Christmas dinner.
Later, things escalate for Cindy as she receives another piece of damning information.
Meanwhile, Stacey takes advice from Eve and Kat and heads to No.43 to speak to Martin about Ruby.
But she’s surprised to learn that the pair are now living together.
Martin tells Stacey there is nothing between him and Ruby.
But unknowingly offends Stacey in the process.
Elsewhere, Kim Fox and the other market traders get a shock when the wrong calendar arrives.
Later, the residents of Walford gather in the Square for the choir service.
The BBC soap revealed that the legendary character Nigel Bates, played by Paul Bradley, is returning for the 40th anniversary episodes, with top-secret scenes to be filmed over the coming weeks.
LOVE triangles are a fundamental part of soap-land, but which ones have become the most iconic?
EASTENDERS
Bradley/Stacey/Max: Stacey Slater began an affair with boyfriend Bradley Branning’s dad Max in 2007.
Despite their romps, Stacey still married Bradley, but their deceit came out in an iconic Christmas Day episode that year.
Grant/Sharon/Phil: Heading even further back in Walford history, EastEnders fans were gripped in the 90s as Sharon Watts had a one-night stand with her brother-in-law Phil Mitchell.
Sharon confided in best friend Michelle Fowler – not realising it was caught on tape – and her husband Grant eventually found out and played it in front of everyone at the Queen Vic.
Syed/Amira/Christian: Syed Masood was engaged to Amira before realising he had feelings for another man, Christian, which he confessed to him on his wedding day.
A devout Muslim, Syed refused to admit his true sexuality and went ahead and married Amira anyway, but when they returned, the two men started an affair before being caught in the act by Amira.
CORONATION STREET
Shelley/Peter/Lucy: Peter Barlow took the concept of a love triangle and ran with it in Coronation Street – extending it to bigamy.
He was in a relationship with Shelley Unwin but started dating Lucy Richards, and quickly married her after she fell pregnant with his son, Simon.
But it didn’t stop him also marrying Shelley, but he was eventually caught when Lucy turned up in Weatherfield and the two women confronted him.
Ken/Deidre/Mike: Back in 1982, Deirdre Barlow started sleeping with her husband’s nemesis Mike Baldwin in secret, before confessing all a year later.
When Mike turned up at the marital home, Deirdre was being throttled by her husband who then kicked her out, but years later they reconciled.
Maria/Aidan/Eva: In 2017, Aidan Connor started sleeping with girlfriend Eva Price’s best friend, Maria Connor.
Eva eventually found out and she decided to take revenge by faking a pregnancy, spending his money and planned to confront him on their wedding day.
But she had a change of heart when a remorseful Aidan confessed, and decided to marry him anyway, only for Maria to arrive and expose her fake pregnancy.
EMMERDALE
Ross/Debbie/Pete: Debbie Dingle found herself torn between two brothers, Ross and Pete Barton in 2015 in Emmerdale.
She eventually decided to marry Pete but yet again, a soap wedding day was ruined when the groom learned of his bride’s betrayal via a recording played at the wedding.
Chrissie/Robert/Aaron: Robert Sugden was married to Chrissie White and all seemed well – until he began a steamy affair with Aaron Dingle.
Robert’s ex Katie Sugden almost exposed the affair – but fell to her death before she had the chance.
However, a guilty Aaron eventually cracked and told Chrissie about the affair – after which she announced it to the whole pub.
Bumbling softie Nigel, stepdad to Clare, first appeared in 1992 and became a popular figure in Walford.
He was close friends with several residents including Dot Cotton and Grant Mitchell.
Fans of EastEnders will remember Nigel for his obsession with flamboyant shirts and his dark curly hair.
He was left devastated following the death of his wife, Debbie, and was last seen in Albert Square in 1998, leaving for Scotland.
The scenes will also feature a huge explosion engulfing the Queen Vic as part of EastEnders’ 40th anniversary.
Several characters will potentially be caught in the blast.
An insider said: “Bosses are keeping tight-lipped on their plans for the anniversary, so as to not spoil anything for viewers.
“But in scenes just filmed they have shot a huge explosion that tears The Vic apart.
“The pub is always central to the drama but this time they are taking it even further with lives expected to be left hanging in the balance.
“The 40th is such an iconic moment in the show’s history, and bosses want to make sure it’s one that viewers are going to remember.”
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and is available to stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
