Soap fans, I’m sorry to say, but it’s that time of the year again. After disruption on ITV, the FIFA World Cup is stepping onto BBC One’s pitch, this time kicking EastEnders onto the sidelines.
The soap usually airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One, but that isn’t the case this week.
Tonight (15 June), while keeping the same time slot, it will air on BBC Two instead. This is the situation for tomorrow’s (16 June) episode as well.
In their place will be live coverage of the World Cup opening match in Group G between Belgium and Egypt at the Seattle Stadium, and then the opening match in Group I between France and Senegal from the New Jersey Stadium in New York.
Both start at 7:30pm, following The One Show – which tonight will feature an interview with EastEnders stars Emma Barton and Ronni Ancona about their characters Honey Mitchell and Bea Pollard.
Fortunately, the soap will return to BBC One on Wednesday and Thursday, although at the slightly later time of 8:30pm. Episodes will also drop early on BBC iPlayer from 6am.
Tonight’s episode sees Denise Fox (Diane Parish) finally disclose her blood cancer diagnosis to her family, and later in the week, we’ll see her daughter Libby (Belinda Owusu) return after nine years away.
Libby’s comeback also sparks a new story for sister Chelsea (Zaraah Abrahams), who reveals that her estranged, serial killer husband Gray Atkins’s (Toby-Alexander Smith) grandmother Sheila (Sheila Ruskin) has been sending her cheques.
The siblings meet up with Sheila, determined to find out whether she’s still in touch with Gray.
Last month, Radio Times revealed that Smith had reprised his role for a short stint, meaning that he’ll be back on our screens within weeks.
Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google
Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google.
Read more:
- EastEnders to feature popular Strictly Come Dancing star in upcoming Walford Pride storyline
- EastEnders legend teases “dangerous” dynamic between Max Branning and Cindy Beale
- EastEnders boss teases “emotional” Denise Fox scenes from blood cancer storyline after 20 years on the show
- EastEnders wins Soap award at BAFTA Television Awards 2026 as fan-favourite delivers speech amid anniversary
Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers.
Add EastEnders to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Check out more of our Soaps coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
