EastEnders included a surprise reference to Euro 2024 ahead of the final in Berlin on Sunday.
The soap, which is no stranger to filming special additions, aired a surprise themed reference to the game against the Netherlands following the Three Lions’ victory earlier this week.
In the new scene, characters Martin Fowler, Alfie Moon and Harvey Monroe gather in the square to recall the most exciting moments of the semi-final.
Speaking about the match, the trio shared their hopes that this time they can “come home” after England lost to Italy in 2021.
Harvey asks his friends in the scene: “Do you think we can make it to the end?”, to which Alfie replies: “We dare to dream, my friend. Dare to dream!”, before the trio embrace and begin singing.
EastEnders included a surprise reference to Euro 2024 ahead of the final in Berlin on Sunday
In the new scene, characters Martin Fowler, Alfie Moon and Harvey Monroe gather in the square to recall the most exciting moments of the semi-final and share their hopes of finally being able to “come home”.
It is the second time this month that EastEnders has borrowed from current affairs, as the soap aired a general election-themed moment between Harvey and Ian Beale on July 4.
The soap featured the scene in the second episode of a double bill, which launched on BBC iPlayer when the polls opened at 7am.
In the scene, Ian told Harvey that he was heading to the polling station to cast his vote, but the latter confessed that he had no idea the election was taking place.
Harvey admitted he was so busy he had forgotten about the election, adding: “It’s just one vote anyway. What difference does it make?”
Ian began: “You know what would happen if everyone thought like that…” before Harvey finally agreed to go to the polling station, but added that it was unlikely he and Ian were “voting for the same people”.
This isn’t the first time EastEnders has referenced important news moments with specially filmed scenes, with previous moments making special reference to the Royal Family.
In 2022, the soap paid tribute to the late Queen, but opened an episode with a scene describing the monarch’s death as “devastating” and as if the entire country had “lost their grandmother.”
In the scene, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) adjusted a photo of the Queen on the bar at the Queen Vic, before Denise Fox said: “God bless her, she’s been there all our lives. It’s like she’s all we’ve ever known.”
It is the second time this month that EastEnders has borrowed from current affairs, as the soap aired a general election-themed moment between Harvey and Ian Beale on July 4.
In the scene, Ian Beale told Harvey Monroe that he was heading to the polling station to cast his vote, but the latter confessed that he had no idea the election was taking place.
Ian began, ‘You know what? If everyone thought like that…’ before Harvey finally agreed to go to the polling station.
This isn’t the first time EastEnders has referenced major moments in the news, with a special scene paying tribute to the Queen following her death in 2022.
Kathy Beale, played by Gillian Taylforth, replied: “But it feels very personal, doesn’t it? It’s devastating.”
“It’s like we lost our grandmother,” Diane said.
—Well, we have. I mean, the country has lost… we’ve all lost our grandmother. She dedicated her whole life to serving us, Linda replied.
The long-running BBC soap has often edited in last-minute extra scenes to mark significant events over the years, including the birth of Prince George, the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton and the death of the Queen Mother, as well as last year’s World Cup semi-final.