What time is EastEnders on tonight? Christmas Day viewing schedule and iPlayer release explained

Merry Christmas!
Joel Harley
By Joel Harley

With Christmas Day upon us, EastEnders isn’t on at its usual time tonight (Thursday, December 25). But that doesn’t mean viewers won’t be able to get their Albert Square fix – quite the opposite, in fact. This year, the BBC has a festive two-parter in store – as Max Branning causes havoc at the dinner table, and Kat desperately tries to protect Zoe.

But when is EastEnders on tonight? And, with the soap reportedly not landing at 6am on iPlayer as it usually does, when and how can we see it?

Stay tuned for the full details of this year’s EastEnders.

Phil and Nigel at Christmas
It’s Christmaaaas! (Credit: BBC)

What time is EastEnders on tonight?

EastEnders is on in two parts today (Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day). The first part will air at 7.45pm today, and last for half an hour, on BBC One. The second part will then air at 9.45pm, and last the same amount of time.

In order to preserve the surprises up its sleeve, the soap won’t drop on BBC iPlayer until after each episode has already aired… meaning that you’ll have to wait until it plays on BBC One to find out the explosive events of this year’s Christmas.

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Read all the latest spoilers

Zoe and the Slaters' Christmas takes a catastrophic turn as Max ruins everything Thu, Dec 25

Zoe and the Slaters' Christmas takes a catastrophic turn as Max ruins everything

17 hours ago
Zoe makes a shocking discovery as Sam reveals her cancer diagnosis Wed, Dec 24

Zoe makes a shocking discovery as Sam reveals her cancer diagnosis

2 days ago
Max and Cindy finally come face-to-face, Harry's on a revenge mission, and a shocking flashforward airs Dec 29 - Jan 1

Max and Cindy finally come face-to-face, Harry's on a revenge mission, and a shocking flashforward airs

2 days ago
Nigel visited by ghosts of Christmas past as his future in Walford is decided Tue, Dec 23

Nigel visited by ghosts of Christmas past as his future in Walford is decided

3 days ago
Pat and Barry are back, Zoe makes an alarming discovery, and Max spoils Christmas Mon, Dec 22

Pat and Barry are back, Zoe makes an alarming discovery, and Max spoils Christmas

4 days ago
Catastrophe at Christmas as Zoe makes an Earth-shattering discovery Mon, Dec 22

Catastrophe at Christmas as Zoe makes an Earth-shattering discovery

4 days ago

But what’s happening on tonight’s EastEnders?

Zoe reads a note on EastEnders
Not everyone’s feeling the festive spirit (Credit: BBC)

What’s happening in EastEnders tonight?

Christmas Day falls on Albert Square in EastEnders spoilers for tonight, as the Slaters prepare to celebrate their first as a family. However, Zoe is a bag of nerves following yesterday’s discovery, while the community dinner goes awry when the Slater argue with another family as a truth is revealed.

Just as one situation resolves, another arises – and Kat is forced to empty The Vic to protect Zoe. As the situation continues to escalate, events take a sudden and catastrophic turn.

Meanwhile, The Branning and the Beales prepare to spend Christmas together as a family. While Kathy and Harvey get into the festive spirit, things the arrival of Cindy soon derails everything.

Peter and Ian try to keep her away from Max, but they only succeed in offending her when they tell her how she’s not welcome. As dinner gets underway, Max continues to stew over a revelation from Oscar.

Before long, fireworks fly at the dinner table.

Read more: Who’s leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders? Complete list of cast exits, arrivals and returns.