EastEnders vote explained as fans given chance to influence live episode
The vote will determine whether Denise Fox will reunite with husband Jack Branning or embark on a new romance with Ravi Gulati in the BBC soap's live 40th anniversary episode
Tonight's live episode of EastEnders hits BBC One at 7.30pm, and ahead of the screening, fans are buzzing with the chance to sway the storyline through two gripping polls. The excitement unfolds live from Albert Square as viewers determine if Denise Fox, played by Diane Parish, will rekindle flames with her estranged hubby Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) or venture into new love territories with her flame Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).
The vote kicked off at 8:30pm on Wednesday 19 February and is ticking down to a close at 7:10pm tonight (Thursday 20 February), just 20 minutes before the live broadcast. Eager to have your say? Secure a BBC account and dash over to the official EastEnders portal at bbc.co.uk/eastenders to submit your vote.
Viewers get to decide who Denise chooses (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Embracing this interactive twist, EastEnders' executive producer, Chris Clenshaw, can barely contain his anticipation: "We're all so excited to give our audience their first ever chance to decide how one of our big storylines plays out. Their votes will determine whether Denise picks Jack or Ravi, with the outcome being revealed as part of our live episode. There is a lot to come over the next few weeks for all three involved, so it'll be extremely exciting to see which way the audience choose to take the story," reports the Mirror.
So how does it all work? Once voting wraps up, each choice will be independently vetted and relayed to Chris Clenshaw right before showtime. From there, cast and crew will bid farewell to the forsaken script, fully immersing themselves in bringing the audience's selected scenario to life.
Fans also get to decide on Sonia's baby's name (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
In a recent twist, EastEnders has launched a second interactive vote for fans. During the hour-long special on Wednesday, Sonia (played by Natalie Cassidy) found herself in labour and proposed two potential names for her baby girl - Toni or Julia. These monikers pay homage to the show's creators, Julia Smith and Tony Holland. Fans now have the power to decide which name Sonia will bestow upon her newborn, with the chosen name set to be revealed in the live episode.
The BBC's poll, titled 'What should Sonia name her baby?', has also sparked speculation among viewers about Sonia's immediate future on the soap. Currently in the throes of labour at the Vic, things are looking dicey, particularly as Natalie Cassidy has already announced her departure from the series.
However, the wording of the poll question has led some fans to speculate that Sonia may survive the current crisis, at least temporarily. One viewer speculated: "Sonia stays alive long enough to give her baby a name then!!" while another optimistically stated: "Sonia has the baby and is ok!"
One fan even ventured a detailed prediction: "I think Sonia and Bianca will be with the baby and when the Vic is rebuilt they will both leave and rent Dot's house to Lauren to keep it in the faammmlee," All eyes will be on tonight's episode to see if these predictions come true.
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