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EastEnders changes title sequence for Lola's final episode
EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders fans may notice that the iconic opening sequence of tonight's episode has been altered to pay respects to Lola Pearce (May 31).
The typical vibrant map of the Thames will be shown in darker tones to reflect the somber nature of the episode, which contains Lola's final moments.
Lola has been battling terminal cancer for months and following the news that her treatment is not working, residents of Albert Square have been bracing themselves for her passing.
Related: EastEnders' Ben Mitchell to struggle with Lexi in death aftermath
This isn't the first time that the long-running soap has changed its opening sequence and swapped it out for a darker, almost noir version.
The alternative titles have been used in the past during pivotal episodes in bleak storylines.
Back in 2015, it appeared when Lucy Beale's killer was unmasked, and again in 2020 to mark the 35th-anniversary episode.
Related: 13 huge EastEnders spoilers for next week
Ahead of her final appearance, Danielle Harold, who has played Lola on the soap since 2011, teased that her final outing was the "most beautiful episode of EastEnders."
She shared: "I didn't want to read my final script. We pick them up from the script desk if we are in work and my final ones were sat there for ages
"I got to the second page and was in absolute bits. It was the hardest thing to read, but it's also the most beautiful episode of EastEnders I've ever read."
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Perry Fenwick, who plays Billy Mitchell on the soap, revealed that his final scenes with his co-star were also heartbreaking to film.
He said: "Without a doubt. I've been on the show 25 years, and I've seen a lot of people come and go, but my last scenes with Danielle [Harold, who plays Lola] were just devastating."
EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage
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