Devastating EastEnders pictures confirm sad death in Queen Vic fire

Ash Percival

Published February 3, 2025 8:56am Updated February 4, 2025 12:19pm

Floral tributes lay outside the Queen Vic in EastEnders — Floral tributes have been laid outside the Queen Vic, pointing to an EastEnders character’s forthcoming death

With an explosion set to rip through the Queen Vic later this month, it looks like at least one EastEnders character will die in the blast.

Floral tributes have been spotted outside the iconic boozer following the deadly blast, which is set to air as part of the BBC soap’s 40th anniversary celebrations later this month.

In new pictures obtained by The Sun, flowers can be seen outside of the Vic barrel store, where a car was previously photographed having crashed into.

News of the Vic explosion was confirmed at the end of last year when dramatic pictures taken at the show’s studios in Elstree in Hertfordshire showed the devastation and destruction caused by the blast.

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With the new snaps confirming at least one character will perish in the stunt, viewers will no doubt be speculating as to who it could be.

Some eagle-eyed fans had previously noticed how the car that crashes into the Vic strongly resembles that belonging to Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman), who is also set to leave the soap it was recently revealed.

Or it could be his fiancée Sonia Fowler who perishes, as last week Natalie Cassidy announced she’d quit the show 32 years after her debut.

A picture of the Queen Vic in EastEnders after filming of a huge explosion showing rubble and debris — It was previously revealed how The Queen Vic will go up in flames as part of EastEnders’ 40th anniversary

The Queen Vic is seen covered in black wrapping in an aerial shot of the EastEnders set — The Vic is seen covered in black wrapping following the blast

Sonia is at currently the centre of a big story as she attempts to figure out why sister Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) confessed to the murder of Debbie Colwell.

Little does she know, however, that fiancé Reiss is actually the killer – and he’s been keeping Bianca prisoner at a secret lockup.

While fans will have to wait and see if bosses have a deathly send-off lined-up for Natalie, she didn’t rule out the possibility of being killed off during an interview with The Sun.

EastEnders 40th anniversary – Everything we know so far

The big 4-0 is almost here! (Picture: BBC)

Here's what EastEnders fans can expect as the soap celebrates its 40th anniversary on 19 February 2025:

A live episode

Having previously gone live for the 25th and 30th anniversaries in 2010 and 2015, the soap will be beaming live to the nation once again during the 40th week.

This instalment will air one day after the big 4-0, on Thursday February 20.

The episode will also mark a huge EastEnders first as bosses are giving the audience the power to vote on the outcome of one storyline, with the actors having to react to the result live on air – speaking of which…

Denise Fox decides... sort of.

With Denise Fox (Diane Parish) having found herself in a love triangle with Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), fans will decide whether she reunites with her estranged husband Jack or picks her secret lover.

We also know that another 'history making' decision will be left to audiences to decide, with details yet to be announced.

Grant Mitchell returns

Ross Kemp will be reprising his role as the legendary Grant Mitchell to play a significant part in the 40th celebrations.

‘Grant has never been far from the action and let’s just say, this time is no different as he certainly comes back with a bang,’ Ross teased.

Cindy Beale’s attacker revealed

Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) was left for dead when she was whacked over the head with a shovel by a mystery assailant on Christmas Day after the truth about her affair with former stepson Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) exploded.

With the finger of suspicion currently pointing at numerous characters, Cindy’s attacker will be unmasked at last during the anniversary week.

Special programming

Ahead of the big week, BBC Four will broadcast EastEnders Sings at the BBC, a look back at archive performances from cast members from Top of the Pops.

Ross Kemp will take a trip down Walford memory lane with a special hour-long documentary called EastEnders: 40 Years on The Square, taking fans behind the scenes as he delves into the show’s history and relieves some of the most memorable moments.

BBC Three will also offer viewers a look at the explosive anniversary storylines with a 45-minute interview special – EastEnders Revealed: The Lock In – hosted by Joe Swash as he chats to some of the actors who find themselves at the heart of the anniversary drama.

The Queen Vic explodes

As Billy and Honey Mitchell (Perry Fenwick and Emma Barton) prepare to walk down the aisle, their favourite boozer The Queen Victoria will burn to the ground.

Aerial pictures from filming show the pub blown to smithereens, with a car crashed into the side. There's also a marquee in the middle of the Square Gardens - is this from the wedding?

Sonia Fowler looking downcast as she sits with Reiss Colwell in EastEnders. — Reiss Colwell or Sonia Fowler could perish in the fire (Picture: BBC)

She said: ‘I’ve got to remember in my head that when, as an actress, you make a decision to leave a show like this, you can’t hypothesise or worry about what’s going to happen to your character.

‘That is down to the boss and the storyliners as the fate of Sonia is in their hands. I’ve had to take a deep breath, and go, “I’ve made my decision, I’ve just got to let it play out”.

With The Vic fire set to play a big part in EastEnders’ 40th anniversary week of episodes, last week BBC bosses released the first official details about the unmissable event.

A special hour-long offering will transmit on Wednesday February 19 – the very date the show first hit screens four decades ago – followed by a full live episode on Thursday February 20.

The episode in question which will change Walford – and the lives of those who live in it – forever.

One of the core elements of the anniversary week is that fans will have the opportunity to decide whether Denise Fox (Diane Parish) ends up with Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) or Jack Branning (Scott Maslen).

The anniversary will also see the return of Grant Mitchell as Ross Kemp reprises his role and the show will also solve the mystery of ‘Who Attacked Cindy Beale?’

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.

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