The live episode of EastEnders will be shown on BBC One at 7.30pm tonight, and in the run up to the episode fans have the chance to vote in two polls that will influence the plot. The episode is being broadcast live from Albert Square, and viewers will get to pick whether Denise Fox (Diane Parish) will reunite with her estranged husband Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) or choose to embark on a new romance with lover Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).
The vote opened at 8:30pm yesterday and will close at 7:10pm today, just 20 minutes before the live episode airs. To vote, fans must have a BBC account. Then you just need to visit the official EastEnders page at bbc.co.uk/eastenders to cast your vote.
When the live special was announced, Chris Clenshaw, executive producer of the BBC soap, said: “We’re all so excited to give our audience their first ever chance to decide how one of our big storylines plays out. Their votes will determine whether Denise picks Jack or Ravi, with the outcome being revealed as part of our live episode. There is a lot to come over the next few weeks for all three involved, so it’ll be extremely exciting to see which way the audience choose to take the story.”.
So how will it work? Once all votes have been cast, the decision will be independently verified and passed on to Chris Clenshaw just before the show begins, and the cast and crew will then disregard the losing script as they prepare to depict the winning scene.
Yesterday, EastEnders also announced a second vote that fans can take part in. During the one hour special, Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) was in labour, and she suggested two names for her daughter when she is born, Toni or Julia. The names are in honour of the show's creators, Julia Smith and Tony Holland, and fans can choose which name Sonia gives her baby, which will also be included in the live episode.
Viewers have guessed that the vote, titled 'What should Sonia name her baby?' by the BBC, gives a hint about Sonia's immediate fate on the soap. Currently trapped in the Vic and in labour, things aren't looking great, especially as actress Natalie Cassidy has already confirmed she is leaving the series.
However, the way the question is phrased has led some fans to believe that it means Sonia survives the disaster, at least for now. “Sonia stays alive long enough to give her baby a name then!!” guessed one fan, while another said: Sonia has the baby and is ok!”.
“I think Sonia and Bianca will be with the baby and when the Vic is rebuilt they will both leave and rent Dot’s house to Lauren to keep it in the faammmlee,” was the detailed prediction of one viewer, who may only have to wait until later tonight to find out if they were right.
