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Live EastEnders solves whodunnit Live EastEnders reveals whodunnit
(10 minutes later)
EastEnders has revealed who murdered Archie Mitchell in a live episode marking the soap's 25th anniversary. EastEnders celebrates its 25th anniversary with the soap's first live episode on Friday.
The BBC said even the actor playing the killer did not know until 30 minutes before the live transmission. Ten possible endings had been rehearsed. The show will mark the culmination of a long-running plot to discover who murdered Archie Mitchell.
The show itself went smoothly, including a surprise plot twist - the dramatic death of a major character. BBC bosses have revealed that not even the perpetrator has been told of their crime, with 10 possible endings being written and rehearsed for the show.
Bradley Branning, played by Charlie Clements, leapt to his death off a building in Albert Square. Sean Slater (Rob Kazinsky) is currently the favourite for the deed with odds of 4/7, say bookmakers William Hill.
The revelation of Archie's killer marks the culmination of a long-running plotline that the BBC hopes will draw in millions of viewers. Kazinsky - who had a volatile relationship with Archie's daughter, Roxy - has not appeared in the show for more than a year.
Archie, who had amassed a string of enemies during his brief time on the show, was bludgeoned with a bust of Queen Victoria in the Albert Square pub on Christmas Day. Archie, who amassed a string of enemies during his brief time on the show, was bludgeoned with a bust of Queen Victoria in the Albert Square pub on Christmas Day.
At the end of the episode, the killer revealed herself. Sean Slater last appeared in the show in January 2009
Bradley's new bride Stacey (Lacey Turner) saw him fall to his death, and then admitted: "I did it. I killed Archie. It was me." Other suspects for the murder include Archie's former wife, Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor), Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements).
The perpetrator will be told just half an hour before the live show airs on Friday at 2000 GMT.
"The BBC have done a brilliant job keeping everyone guessing," said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.
"We have taken bets on 24 different members of the cast, but the absent Sean Slater has been today's big gamble."
ALBERT SQUARE TRIVIA The show began as a twice-weekly show in 1985It moved to four episodes a week in 2001Friday will mark the 3,952nd episode of the BBC One soapThe only remaining member of the original cast of EastEnders is Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt. He was 16 when the show beganAlbert Square is based on the real life design of Fassett Square in Hackney, east LondonALBERT SQUARE TRIVIA The show began as a twice-weekly show in 1985It moved to four episodes a week in 2001Friday will mark the 3,952nd episode of the BBC One soapThe only remaining member of the original cast of EastEnders is Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt. He was 16 when the show beganAlbert Square is based on the real life design of Fassett Square in Hackney, east London
Other suspects for the murder had included Archie's former wife, Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor), Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) and Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and Bradley himself. Executive producer Diederick Santer claims there have been several clues to the killer's identity - one of them in the Christmas Day episode, one midway through the investigation and a final undisclosed pointer.
Executive producer Diederick Santer said there had been several clues to the killer's identity - one of them in the Christmas Day episode, one midway through the investigation and a final undisclosed pointer. The live episode, which has been in the pipeline for nine months, will feature 51 members of the cast, who have been involved in three-days of rehearsal.
The live episode, which had been in the pipeline for nine months, featured 51 members of the cast, who had been rehearsing for thre days. The 30-minute episode will be a massive technical undertaking, with 36 camera operators, rather than the usual four, capturing more than 400 shots.
The 30-minute show was a massive technical undertaking, with 36 camera operators, rather than the usual four, capturing more than 400 shots. A spokeswoman admitted there would be a "tiny" delay before the broadcast "in case we have to put a tape in if something goes wrong".
There had been reports that Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, had been unwell and may not appear in the live episode, but the spokeswoman confirmed she would still be appearing.
"She has been unwell and lost her voice but she's here rehearsing and plans to go ahead with the live show tonight as she's such a trouper," she said.