SPOILER ALERT! Lucy Beale to be 'killed off' EastEnders in cliffhanger storyline to mark the soap's 30 year-anniversary
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EastEnders' Lucy Beale is to killed off in one of the most dramatic scripts spanning an entire year, it has been revealed.
The troublesome 20-year-old, played by teenage actress Hetti Bywater, will be murdered at Easter a month before rival ITV's Coronation Street stages a bloodbath with barmaid Tina McIntyre, played by Michelle Keegan.
BBC executives are keen to ramp up viewings for the series with insider saying the murder plot is bigger than 2001's whodunnit - when Phil Mitchell was shot pulling in 22 million viewers, The Sun reports.
End of an era: Lucy Beale, played by Hetti Bywater, 20, will make dramatic exit at Easter in gripping storyline set to span a year
The script has been spun out to run until the show's 30th anniversary next February.
Her death will mark the start of a new chapter for beleaguered dad Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt.
Ian's character has been in the soap since its inception in 1985 and is being geared to 'shine' in the gripping storyline.
Sad times: EastEnders's Ian Beale, will see his daughter Lucy, played here by Melissa Suffield, die leaving him questioning how well he really knew her
An insider told The Sun: 'It's been so cleverly plotted that it isn't a typical whodunnit. It's going to be raw, emotional and gritty.
'It will see her dad Ian start to question how well he really knew his daughter as secrets will spill out after her death.
'But one Walford resident has a very dark secret about it and viewers will be kept guessing for the rest of the year.'
Dramatic: Lucy, pictured here, has had some gripping storylines in the past two years and is shown here with Danny Pennant (Gary Lucy)
Twin Lucy has been played by four actress since Walford's mother Cindy gave birth to her in 1993.
Her demise has been secretly plotted since the arrival of Executive Producer, Dominic Treadwell-Collins.
Dominic hinted in a speech at the end of 2013 there would be a big story that will 'hit around Easter and keep going until the anniversary.'
He added: 'It will shock and hopefully make the nation weep and give Adam Woodyatt, who is a brilliant actor and a lovely man, a chance to shine.'
Gripping: Lucy, here sealing the deal with a kiss with Danny Pennant (Gary Lucy) is known for her troublesome character
She said: 'It's funny - whenever Charlie Brooks and I are working together, we're really similar. Our characters are quite alike, and we even deliver some of our lines in the same way.
'Lucy and Janine are a pretty formidable pair!'
Lucy - the daughter of Ian, the twin of Peter, and half-sister to Bobby and Cindy - has featured in EastEnders since her birth on 9th December 1993, and was previously played by actresses Eva Brittin-Snell, Casey Anne Rothery and Melissa Suffield.
Whodunnit? Millions are expected to tune in to find out what happens to EastEnders stars, from left, Jane Beale (Laurie Brett), Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater), Ian Beale (Adam Woodyat, Denise Fox (Diane Parish), Peter Beale (Ben Hardy)
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2564558/Lucy-Beale-make-shock-exit-EastEnders.html#ixzz2tz1zOoz3
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