Here's why EastEnders hasn't been released early on iPlayer
EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders fans will have to wait a little longer than usual to see tonight's much-anticipated episode (June 21).
Earlier this week, the BBC soap announced that this Wednesday and Thursday's episodes will not be premiering early on BBC iPlayer.
Over the past year, EastEnders has been available to stream from 6am on Monday – Thursday before being broadcast on BBC One that evening.
However, sometimes episodes are held back when there is a certain story detail they don't want leaked before the evening transmission.
A few recent examples include Dot Branning's funeral episodes, which saw the unannounced returns of Keanu Taylor and Ian Beale, the Christmas Day special, which saw Mick Carter make his explosive exit, and also New Year's Day dramatic edition – due to the secrecy around Lily Slater's underage pregnancy.
This week, the delay is for similar reasons of those reasons, as newcomer George and his family's backstory is going to be revealed, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.
The episode airing on Thursday, June 22 – which EastEnders are teasing as 'a Knight to remember' has even been extended, but fans can expect a twist in tonight's scenes as well.
Recent episodes have seen Linda rope Phil into investigating George's missing wife Rose, who disappeared without a trace years ago.
Last night's episode (June 20) saw Callum attempt to follow through with a request from Phil to look up George's police records, but when he searched for Rose, all results were blocked.
Callum was then visited by one of his superiors at the Serious Crimes Unit to demand answers on why he'd searched for Rose in the first place.
Phil, who was fast becoming suspicious as well, later joined George in the boxing ring for a tense sparring session.
George stood his ground in the face of Phil's questioning, insisting that there was nothing left to reveal about Rose because Linda was all wrong with her suspicions.
Phil was left satisfied in the short-term, until Callum reported back about his unsettling visit earlier on.
"I could lose my job," Callum explained. "There's something about this Rose that goes all the way to the top. Something that they don't want anyone anywhere near."
Phil relayed this back to Linda, finally accepting that she has been right about George all along.
The fallout of this finding will be explored tonight, as Phil stalls signing the deal until he has further answers and gets Richie to dig up dirt on Rose.
Phil later arrives at The Vic on the pretence that they will complete the contracts, but uses the opportunity to confront George over not being straight with him.
What happens next is a closely guarded secret, but all will be revealed at 7.30pm on BBC One, with the iPlayer release dropping simultaneously so that audiences can watch the truth unfold together.
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.
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