BBC in huge blunder as Breaking News channel accidentally streams EastEnders

The BBC made a huge blunder on Wednesday night when one of their news channels accidentally streamed EastEnders. Nearly 26,000 people were tuning into BBC Breaking News on social media expecting to get the latest with current affairs.

But, instead, viewers saw a clip of Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) and Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), just weeks after the mother and daughter were reunited on the BBC’s long-running soap.

One fan wrote on X: “26k people watching BBC Breaking News stream EastEnders,” but it didn’t stop there as in an update, the same user pointed out that nearly 40,000 were watching and the programme had moved onto a different scene.

TV Critic Scott Bryan picked up on the whole incident as well. He said: “Yesterday BBC Breaking News accidentally broadcasted EastEnders.”

Fans instantly flooded social media with comments on the whole thing, and seemed to take it all in good humour. One wrote: “I hope the Americans watching thought it was a documentary piece!”

Another said: “They did this on the main BBC News account as well,” and a third added: “Hope that gets included in the viewing figures!” A fourth user said: “I’m SCREAMING why are BBC News socials live streaming,” and a fifth added: “Hold up… why is #EastEnders being streamed on Twitter via BBC Breaking News page??” and embellished their comment with a string of laughing emojis.

In recent weeks, fan theories about the identity of Zoe’s baby father have been passed around social media. The character made a return to the soap just weeks ago after 20 years ago, and recently dropped the bombshell that Dennis Rickman was the father of her baby in an argument with Sharon Watts. Despite Sharon and Zoe calling a truce earlier this week, things came to a blow when Vicki and Zoe had a physical fight on the Square.

Sharon then stormed into the pub and confronted Zoe, but Sharon was left speechless when she dropped the bombshell that she was looking for her son – who she shared with Dennis.

Zoe and Dennis moved in together over 20 years ago, but he couldn’t hide his feelings for his adopted sister Sharon. The pair then planned to move away to America together, but in a bid to stop them, Zoe pretended she was pregnant with his baby.

Dirty Den then convinced Zoe to sleep with him to get pregnant – with Dennis later finding the two in bed together in January 2025. Dennis was killed in 2006 after being stabbed by Johnny Allen’s henchmen.

Now, Zoe’s claiming she and Dennis slept together in between this time, but fans aren’t convinced. A lot of fans believe Zoe dropped the ‘false bombshell’ to wind Sharon up – as many believe Anthony Trueman is the father.

As Sharon accused Zoe of returning to Walford for money, she replied: “You wanna know why I need money? I need money because I have a baby. A baby that I gave away. And after all this time I want to find him. You want to know who the father is?

“Not your dad, your husband’s. 20 years ago, Dennis Rickman slept with me. That’s right Sharon. Precious Dennis. He got me pregnant,” as Sharon looked on in tears.

The episode then came to a dramatic end, but fans aren’t convinced Zoe’s telling the truth. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one wrote: “I don’t believe the baby is Dennis’s baby. Zoe just said that to get a rise and hurt Sharon. #EastEnders It would be too easy if it were Dennis’s kid.”

Another penned: “Yeah it’s definitely not Dennis’s kids, she just saying it to wind up Sharon. Dennis never touched her and felt sick and he left in Jan 2005 came back in June 2005 for 3 days living in Pauline’s house.”

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.