Time CHANGE Tonight! When To Watch

EastEnders fans are being urged to double-check their clocks tonight, because Walford is not unfolding at its usual time. As the BBC reshuffles its festive schedule in the run-up to Christmas, the iconic soap has been moved from its familiar slot, catching many viewers off guard. With emotions already running high on the Square and Christmas drama about to hit boiling point, missing even a single scene could mean missing a huge twist.

Ordinarily, viewers expect to settle in at 7:30 p.m. for their nightly dose of EastEnders. However, tonight’s episode will not air at that time. Instead, the BBC has brought the show forward, meaning fans need to tune in earlier than usual to keep up with the explosive storylines building toward Christmas Day. This scheduling change is part of the BBC’s wider festive shake-up, designed to make room for seasonal specials and holiday favourites across the evening lineup.

When is EastEnders on tonight?

Tonight’s episode of EastEnders will air at 6:55 p.m. on BBC One, giving viewers a 35-minute head start compared to the usual schedule. Despite the earlier time, the episode will still run for its standard 30-minute duration, so no content will be lost—just shifted. The earlier slot allows festive programming, including special holiday editions of popular BBC shows, to take over later in the evening.

For fans who prefer to watch online or may miss the live broadcast, there’s some reassuring news. As with most non-Christmas Day episodes, tonight’s instalment has already landed on BBC iPlayer, where it became available from 6:00 a.m. This means viewers can catch up at any time during the day, whether they’re juggling work, travel, or Christmas preparations.

What about the rest of Christmas week?

The schedule changes don’t stop there. Christmas week brings some of the most dramatic and carefully planned episodes of the entire year, and EastEnders is pulling out all the stops.

On Christmas Day, Thursday 25th December, the soap will deliver two special episodes, airing at 7:45 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. These episodes are expected to be packed with major revelations, emotional confrontations, and story-altering moments. In a significant shift from recent years, the BBC has confirmed that neither Christmas Day episode will be released early on iPlayer. Fans will need to watch them live as they air, marking a deliberate return to “event television” for one of EastEnders’ biggest nights of the year.

The festive drama continues on Friday 26th December, with another episode airing at 9:30 p.m., ensuring that the fallout from Christmas Day doesn’t go unresolved for long. Secrets exposed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are set to have serious consequences, rippling through Walford well into the New Year.

Christmas Eve chaos: Max, Oscar, and a devastating revelation

As Christmas Eve unfolds on the Square, tensions are already dangerously high. Max Branning finds himself once again at the centre of emotional turmoil, pushing away the people who care about him most. Determined to repair his strained relationship with his son Oscar after recent clashes, Max makes a heartfelt promise to put things right. He insists that family will come first and that he’s ready to step up.

But in classic Max fashion, good intentions don’t last long. His unresolved feelings for Linda resurface, distracting him at the worst possible moment. Old habits die hard, and Max’s inability to focus on what truly matters leaves Oscar feeling sidelined yet again.

Hurt, angry, and feeling abandoned by his father, Oscar spirals. Seeking comfort in the wrong places, he turns to alcohol before eventually making his way to the Square’s Christmas carol concert. What should be a moment of festive unity quickly becomes something far darker.

In an emotionally charged confrontation, Oscar drops a bombshell revelation on Max—one so shocking it threatens to destroy any hope of a peaceful Christmas. The truth hits Max like a punch to the gut, and viewers are left wondering whether Oscar’s words have just sealed the Branning family’s fate for Christmas Day. Can Max recover from this, or has he finally pushed his son too far?

Cat, Zoe, and the stalker mystery deepens

Elsewhere, Cat is focused on protecting Zoe as the ongoing stalker ordeal continues to cast a long, frightening shadow. Determined to keep Zoe safe, Cat remains hyper-alert, watching every move and questioning everyone who comes too close.

Her concern turns into suspicion when she discovers Sam hiding out in the back room of the Vic. Jumping to the worst conclusion, Cat confronts Sam head-on, demanding to know whether she’s been behind the torment Zoe has been suffering. Given Sam’s recent erratic behaviour, Cat isn’t prepared to take any chances.

However, Sam’s response completely blindsides her. In a raw and emotional confession, Sam reveals that she has cancer. She explains that she came to the Vic not to cause trouble, but to seek comfort and support from Zach during an incredibly frightening time in her life. The revelation instantly reframes everything viewers thought they knew about Sam’s recent actions.

What once looked suspicious now feels tragic. The weight of Sam’s secret adds another emotional layer to an already intense Christmas week, forcing Cat—and the audience—to reassess their judgments. It’s a reminder that in Walford, everyone is fighting a battle you may not see.

A chilling discovery sets up Christmas Day disaster

As the evening progresses, Cat and Alfie head off to Yolande’s carol concert, leaving Zoe alone back at the Vic. It’s meant to be a brief moment of quiet, but instead, it becomes the calm before a devastating storm.

While alone, Zoe stumbles upon a disturbing discovery—something so alarming it instantly shifts the course of events heading into Christmas Day. The nature of what she finds is being kept tightly under wraps, but it’s clear that this moment will have far-reaching consequences.

Whatever Zoe uncovers threatens to blow open secrets that were meant to stay buried, placing multiple residents of the Square on a collision course with heartbreak, confrontation, and possibly even danger. As Christmas Day approaches, the sense of dread intensifies: nothing will be the same after this.

Why tonight’s episode matters

With so many storylines converging—Max and Oscar’s fractured relationship, Zoe’s escalating fear, Sam’s devastating diagnosis, and the looming stalker mystery—tonight’s earlier-than-usual episode is crucial viewing. Every scene is carefully setting the stage for the explosive Christmas Day double bill, where long-running secrets are expected to come crashing into the open.

So if you’re planning your evening around EastEnders, make sure you adjust your schedule. Whether you tune in at 6:55 p.m. on BBC One or catch up via BBC iPlayer, tonight’s episode is not one to miss. Walford is heading straight into one of its most dramatic Christmases yet—and the countdown has officially begun.