EastEnders will go live for a special episode to mark its 40 th anniversary celebrations. The BBC show is celebrating a huge four decades on our screen next month and as part of that, one of the episodes will be live. In a first-of-its kind interactive twist, the viewer will get to decide whether Denise Fox ends up with her estranged husband Jack Branning or if she will end up seeing a future with Ravi Gulati, who she has been having an affair with.

The 40th anniversary celebrations will air the week of the 17th February, with some very special episodes to mark the occasion. EastEnders Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw said of the big storyline: "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!".

It has now been confirmed that the BBC will air a whole week of special episodes to mark the occasion. A special hour long episode will air on Wednesday February 19th, whilst there will be a full live episode on Thursday February 20th. Not much is being revealed about the special episode - but bosses have teased the live episode will see lives changed in Walford for good, and many will be affected - but who will find themselves in trouble?.

Voting for who Denise ends up with will begin on Wednesday February 19th at 8.30pm and will be open until 7:10pm on Thursday February 20th ahead of the live episode, which will air from BBC Elstree Centre at 7.30pm that evening. Viewers will also be able to make another separate vote that could change Walford forever - but what for remains to be seen. The votes will be verified when voting closes and handed to soap boss Chris Clenshaw - who has announced his departure from the show following the 40th anniversary - before the cast and crew take on the winning script and play it all out.

There will be a number of other special events to mark the soap anniversary including a documentary fronted by Ross Kemp called EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square, which follows the BBC soap over the last four decades. Joe Swash will also return for a special 45 minute interview show called EastEnders Revealed: The Lock In, which will see Joe chat to some of the stars who are at the heart of the anniversary drama that week.