EastEnders fans will get to see the new-look Albert Square on screen for the first time next week as it takes centre stage in the dramatic climax to the Gray Atkins storyline.
Next week, solicitor Gray’s killer crimes will finally be exposed, and he will be seen resorting to desperate measures to try to evade justice.
The show's production manager, Rona McKendrick, has told Radio Times, "In the fourth episode [of the week], there's a chase sequence to show off as much of the new area as we possibly can."
The “new area” in question has taken several years to build and has reportedly cost £87 million.
The BBC says it will enable improved HD filming and will also allow new areas to be explored on screen, giving writers, producers and directors more creative freedom.
The former Albert Square was built in 1984, ready for the soap’s launch the following year.
But it was only ever intended to be used for two years, and is no longer fit for purpose.
The new set has been in use since 11th January, but EastEnders is filmed around six to eight weeks in advance, so it’s only now that viewers are getting to see it.
The soap released several images at the time, to mark the first day’s filming.
One shows the front of the Queen Vic with the Minute Mart and a market stall visible beside it, while another shows a side view of the pub, with the soap's cast and crew hard at work.
Speaking about filming on the new square, Toby-Alexander Smith, who plays Gray, says “Everyone has done such an amazing job replicating the old set, even down to there being rust on the bars in the Square.
“It does look pretty identical, so in that sense it doesn’t feel too dissimilar, but it is more the energy and the freshness of the cast and crew just being on this new set and being part of EastEnders history.”
And teasing what viewers can expect from next week’s blistering episodes, he adds, “There are going to be some really tense moments. There is a pretty big stunt which Shona McGarty (Whitney) and I both had a lot of fun filming.
“Ultimately, Whitney is fearless at this point. She has been trying to get Gray for a long time, so there is a massive showdown that is really exciting.”
EastEnders currently airs Mondays at 8.05pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.35pm and Fridays at 8.30pm on BBC One - see our TV Guide for full listings. You can also catch up on episodes on BBC iPlayer now.
