Alternative Endings
Occasionally, singular episodes of EastEnders have used a different theme tune for the closing credits, or the initial drum beats are missing or have been replaced by something else.
| Date | Circumstances |
|---|---|
| 12 September 1985 | Michelle Fowler cries into the arms of her grandmother Lou after Lou realises that Michelle is pregnant and they have a talk. As Michelle cries the scene fades into the closing credits. There were no drum beats. |
| 23 February 1989 | When Den Watts was shot and supposedly killed, the screen went black and cut into the closing credits. There were no drum beats. |
| 22 June 1989 | At the end of Pat Wicks and Frank Butcher's wedding episode the drum beats were replaced by a conga tune. |
| 5 July 1990 | When Pete Beale's stall was demolished by a JCB, the drum beats were replaced by the sound of the JCB demolishing the stall. |
| 29 April 1993 | When Phil demanded that Sharon to visit Grant in prison and tell him that their relationship is over. The sound of the door slamming acted as the first note of the drum beats. |
| 2 September 1993 | Sharon, Grant and Phil Mitchell, Kathy Beale, Frank and Pat Butcher start their journey home from France after visiting Frank's pregnant daughter Diane. Sharon watches on as Phil and Kathy embrace. A segment from the full 1993 theme was used to act as Julia's Theme. |
| 5 October 1993 | Debbie Bates accepts Nigel's offer and decides to spend the night with him. A segment from the full 1993 theme was used to act as Julia's Theme. |
| 21 October 1993 | Ian begs his wife Cindy to return home after lies have spread and he thinks she has cheated. A segment from the full 1993 theme was used to act as Julia's Theme. |
| 8 May 1995 | The square celebrated VE Day. The theme tune was replaced with a wartime waltz. |
| 31 December 1999 | When Mel Beale left her husband Ian on the strike of midnight on millennium eve, the regular closing drum beats were replaced by the tune of Auld Lang Syne. |
| 7 September 2000 | The song "Guilty" was used over the end credits instead of the programme's usual title music to signify the final appearance of character Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin) who had persuaded her friend Dot Cotton (June Brown) to help her die. |
| 23 November 2000 | When Ian Beale was declared bankrupt, a sinister piano theme preceded the drums as Ian was driven round the Square, looking at his former business empire. |
| 17 May 2001 | After the trip in Brighton, the song "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves" plays over the original theme and it shows the car drive off back to Walford |
| 25 December 2003 | After the wedding of Alfie Moon and Kat Slater on Christmas Day, the residents of Albert Square celebrate by dancing to Wizzards "I Wish it could be Christmas everyday". The drum beats were replaced by this song. |
| 11 November 2005 | As Alfie and Nana Moon walk away from the graveyard, The Very Thought of You plays over the end credits. |
| 31 January 2008 | This single hander episode featuring Dot Branning used the song "Pretty Baby" over the closing credits. |
| 18 February 2010 | In the lead-up to the show's 25th anniversary, the BBC asked viewers to upload videos of themselves singing the theme tune to the EastEnders website. This episode ended with a montage of these performances. |
| 10 September 2010 | For Peggy Mitchell's final episode during her moving away from Albert Square following the Queen Vic Fire, "Peggy's Theme" was used. |
| 7 July 2011 | A shortened version of Peggy's Theme was used as Ronnie Branning found peace after being sentenced to three years imprisonment for the kidnap of Tommy Moon. |
| 1 January 2012 | "Pat's Theme" was used after Pat Evans passed away. The picture faded to black for the credits and the theme was played. There were no drum beats. |
| 13 January 2012 | After the main credits, an extra scene aired featuring Simon Wicks laying flowers on his mother Pat's grave, followed by another set of drum beats. |
Read more about this topic: East Enders Theme Tune
Famous quotes containing the words alternative and/or endings:
“If English is spoken in heaven ... God undoubtedly employs Cranmer as his speechwriter. The angels of the lesser ministries probably use the language of the New English Bible and the Alternative Service Book for internal memos.”
—Charles, Prince Of Wales (b. 1948)
“Ireland is where strange tales begin and happy endings are possible.”
—Charles Haughey (b. 1925)