EastEnders fans are convinced they know the identity of the unknown male who died - and who has killed him.
In a special flashforward scene, fans of the BBC One soap were left stunned as it showed all six women - Linda, Suki, Kathy, Stacey, Denise and Sharon - were standing over a dead body. In a special first of its kind flash forward scene from Christmas 2023, it was confirmed an unknown man had died but not who was responsible for his death.
Now fans tuning into the soap are convinced they know who is responsible for his death and who the mystery man might be.
Soap boss Chris Clenshaw has teased the shock twist has been in the works since the beginning of 2022.
"It's been in the pipeline since I took over at the beginning of last year. I was looking for a blockbuster story for 2023 and there was clearly an appetite for a ‘whodunnit’, but I was reluctant to play a ‘whodunnit’ in the traditional form, largely due to the spectacularly brilliant ‘Who Killed Lucy’ storyline, that was not just hugely successful but also incredibly gripping throughout," he said.
"I therefore tasked the writing and story team that if we were to do another ‘whodunnit’ it would have to be different, have to feel different, and have to have a very different mechanic at its core. A couple of our writers and story team took that brief on board and came back with the idea of flashing forward and, in doing so, we’re promising a ‘whodunnit’ is coming in the future."
He added: "We developed the idea and thought it would be even more exciting if we didn’t reveal who the victim is – becoming so much more than a ‘whodunnit’… It’s a ‘who-is-it’ as well. We then decided to kick the story off at a time when The Six (women) – Linda, Suki, Kathy, Stacey, Denise and Sharon – are each involved in stories connected to the men in their lives."
Chris teased how the scene gave away some details on who died.
"I'm not going to give anything away that the episode hasn’t already given, but what I will say is there were clues in there. Did you look closely? I urge everyone to re-watch the scene and look at every detail," he said.
"There’s also a few treats in the scene if you look hard enough. What I’d also say is that a lot can happen in Walford between February and December – circumstances can change, relationships can change, loyalties can change – so what you may suspect now could be somewhat different as we make our way through 2023 and head towards Christmas."
Taking to Twitter, fans are convinced they know who was killed - and who wielded the fatal blow.
"Anyone think it's Dean who was dead in the flash forward moment?! #EastEnders," one fan wrote whilst a second added: "Dean comes back with Shirley and gets killed at Christmas #EastEnders."
A third shared: "I’m sure the dead body will be Dean," with a fourth writing: "nothing eastenders does is ever a coincidence so very strange dean was mentioned tonight before the flash forward, could shirley come back with dean & that’s who dies? #EastEnders."
"Love Sharon so much! I'm guessing she's marrying either Keanu or Phil and it will be one of them who die, or it could be Jack, Ravi or Dean that ends up dead. #EastEnders," a fifth added.
