EASTENDERS fans risk finding out what happens before the show has even aired on Monday – as Ireland gets to see the soap first.
The popular soap airs in the conventional 8pm slot on RTE there – but has been pushed back by 40 minutes on BBC One.
The move is to make way for the big bank holiday movie Paddington 2, which starts at 7pm.
The change didn’t go unnoticed by avid soap fans, who rushed to Twitter to warn others.
One wrote: “It’s always tricky to avoid spoilers when the UK and Ireland are watching at different times.”
A second tweeted: “Ireland will still be watching it at 8pm as usual. So it’s a good idea to avoid Twitter during that time! Or ask the Irish viewers not to spoil it.”
Another fan said: “Just to let you know you might want to stay off Twitter from 8 tomorrow if you want to avoid spoilers. It’s on at 8 in Ireland #EastEnders.”
It certainly isn’t the first time the BBC soap has been hit with an unexpected move in recent weeks after HOAR Online revealed the show will go off air next month before filming resumes.
EastEnders cut down its episode broadcasts to just two per week after the pandemic shut production down.
A source exclusively said: “There will be a break for the soap next month.
“Everyone wants to get back to work of course but the health and safety of cast and crew is the most important thing. It will only happen when it can be done safely.”
BBC boss Charlotte Moore announced plans to restart production last week.
Her statement came after production was halted on the show due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Moore wrote in The Telegraph: “We’ve been looking carefully at how we can safely put some of our shows back into production, and I’m pleased to announce that we plan to begin filming again on both EastEnders and Top Gear by the end of June.We’re also exploring ways to restart shooting on dramas and other major BBC shows.”
