Whodunit? A clue to EastEnders' Lucy Beale's mystery killer to be given live during the National Television Awards

PUBLISHED: 14:35, 21 January 2015 | UPDATED: 14:58, 21 January 2015

It has been one of the biggest 'whodunit' stories in recent soap history.

And now TV viewers will be able to get one step closer as to who killed EastEnders' Lucy Beale, as a huge hint will be shown live during the National Television Awards on Wednesday night.

Lucy, who was played by actress Hetti Bywater, was murdered in one of the BBC One soap's biggest murder plot lines last year.

Tragedy: The murder of EastEnders' Lucy Beale, played by Hetti Bywater, has yet to be solved but a huge clue will be revealed on Wednesday night's live National Television Awards

And it's now been revealed that a 'major clue' will be given out live on air before the killer is finally unveiled next month.

EastEnders producers are keeping the clue under lock and key until half way through the awards show, when BBC security will bring the secret on stage and reveal one of the biggest tips in the murder mystery yet.

Characters including Max Branning (Jake Wood) - who was having an affair with Lucy when she was killed - his daughters Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald) and even Lucy's step-mum Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) are all potentials in the storyline.

The real murderer will then unveiled during EastEnders' 30th anniversary week of live episodes in February.

Before it began: Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Branning, Hetti Bywater as Lucy Beale and Jake Wood as Max Branning not long before the death plotline began

Those hoping to piece together the clues and figure it out for themselves before the big reveal will have to tune into the NTAs, which are broadcast live from The O2 in London at 7.30pm on ITV and hosted by X Factor presenter Dermot O'Leary.

It has been a tumultuous time on the show since the brutal death of Lucy.

With so many possible suspects, one character after another has come under scrutiny and suspicion - including her own family.

Her twin Peter (Ben Hardy) was recently seen trying to convince his father Ian (Adam Woodyatt) that he didn't kill her over the Easter holidays.

Peter was exposed as Lucy's drug dealer last month and subsequently threatened his father and vandalised the house after it became increasingly likely that he was the biggest suspect in the murder enquiry.

Ian is still trying to piece the story together after discovering that Peter used to supply his sister with cocaine and that he also still uses.

Jacqueline Jossa, who plays Lauren Branning on the show, was recently seen shooting emotional scenes at Lucy's graveside in what is believed to be her final appearance before she quits the show to have Dan Osbourne's baby.

Jake, who appeared on the latest series of Strictly Come Dance, recently attended tge PDC World Darts Championship and held up a sign that read 'I killed Lucy!!', but he later revealed it to be a spoof.