EastEnders fans were left fuming as the soap returned to screens after a two-day break.
The BBC One soap was back on air on Thursday night after its usual schedule was disrupted due to the FA Cup action. Rival soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale on ITV were also impacted by the football coverage.
During the return to Walford, fans were left stunned to discover that Jean Slater was the culprit who stole almost £500 in wages meant for Harvey Monroe.
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The money had been nicked from Kat Slater’s taxi office and Jean was planning on using the cash to whisk Harvey away as he struggles with having to testify against his son Aaron became involved in a far-right group.
After the pair enjoyed an afternoon liaison, Harvey's daughter, Dana, questioned the pair on their trip away leading to an excited Jean diving into her handbag to grab the details to show her.
But an envelope fell out of her bag proving she was the one behind the cash going missing, and not Kat's son Tommy Moon.
Despite the on-screen drama, EastEnders fans were taking to social media to complain about the episode's length.
@minomitaylor tweeted: "Sorry but we haven’t had EastEnders for 2 days so why are they giving us a 20 minute episode? Are they sick."
"We missed out on an episode and only got 20 minutes? Kmt #EastEnders," @Melissa7Aimee said.
@Ch3ssy2 fumed: "#EastEnders 20 min episodes is an absolute joke! @bbc."
"BBC one gets worse what's the point of putting on a 20 minute episode of EastEnders when it starts it soon finishes," @djspeedy34 complained.
@Cosmo_Doll_x commented: "Oy, @BBCOne why is @bbceastenders not on for 5 hours tonight by way of compensation for all the bloody football on recently? Instead you give us 20 MINUTES!!! Taking the Mick Carter now you are #Eastenders."
"Why is EastEnders only on for 20 mins tonight im gonna cry," @emsgothic added.
EastEnders scaled back the length of its episode during the pandemic as coronavirus restrictions halted production on many TV shows before limiting what could be done afterward.
However, the soap had confirmed that it would return to its usual 30-minute for three out of its four episodes a week which usually air on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
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