The revelation that Bobby Beale killed his half-sister Lucy has helped make EastEnders a record breaker.
More than a million tweets were sent during the EastEnders specials last night, making them the most tweeted-about episodes of a soap.
The nation, gripped by the mystery of Lucy Beale’s murder, shared its thoughts on the twists and turns of the two episodes, climaxing in more than 30,000 tweets in the single minute after Bobby was revealed to be the killer.
The Who Killed Lucy Beale? storyline has been running for almost a year (BBC)
The second episode eclipsed the 508,678 messages sent during the first special by more than 10,000, with 519,359 tweets posted as the killer came closer to being unmasked, data from social analytics firm Kantar Social TV UK showed.
Viewers discussed their thoughts after finding out young Bobby, Lucy’s 12-year-old half-brother played by Eliot Carrington, had killed her.
Queens Park Ranger striker Charlie Austin said he believed he knew the truth from the start, tweeting:
I told ya
— Charlie Austin (@chazaustin9) February 19, 2015
Hollyoaks actor Charlie Clapham chimed in.
I like your style bob #EELive
— Charlie Clapham (@CharlieClapham) February 19, 2015
Comedian Chris Addison saw parallels with cartoon comedy The Simpsons.
Brilliant. Maggie Simpson did it. #EELive
— Chris Addison (@mrchrisaddison) February 19, 2015
National Grid also reported a spike in activity during the broadcast: “National Grid control saw a 500MW pickup in elec demand for #EELive part 1 & 300MW for part 2.
It took two episodes last night to finally bring to a dramatic climax the whodunnit over Lucy’s mysterious death.
In a confusing twist, young Bobby was not listed as one of the chief suspects publicised by the show in the build-up to the finale.
Ian confronts Jane (Kieron McCarron/BBC)
The end of the night’s first episode left those watching convinced that Jane Beale was Lucy’s killer after Ian angrily confronted her at the family home.
Viewers were whisked back to the night of Lucy’s murder in April last year, with a haunting shot of her body coming back to life to start the long-awaited episode.
It was clear nothing was going to be given away too soon, with every suspect making an appearance in the first few minutes with varying degrees of menace.
But it was an unlikely murderer unmasked in Albert Square, as tiny Bobby Beale was discovered standing over his sister’s lifeless body.
Lucy Beale (BBC)
Standing in the front room of their house and clutching what appeared to be the murder weapon, Bobby told his stepmother Jane: “Whatever she says, she started it. She made everyone unhappy.”
Lucy had said it best herself when she confided in Jane towards the start of the episode: “Tonight is out to get me.”
After being stalked home by Jay, confronted by Ben, abused by Abi and attacked by Denise, she finally met her end at the hands of her youngest brother.
Guilt was dispelled at every turn, with the blood found on Max’s clothes shown to be from Lucy’s nosebleed and her jewellery at Jake’s flat knocked off as she helped him home.
Will Bobby Beale be made to pay for his actions? (BBC)
A tense final few moments saw more suspects eliminated as Peter, Max and Whitney all thought better of visiting Lucy and the first episode’s prime suspect, Jane, turned out to be the first on the scene.
Tonight’s episode is fully live, as part of a week-long celebration to mark EastEnders' 30th anniversary.
