EastEnders fans have been left split by the news that the iconic soap theme tune will be changed for a special Jubilee edition of the show.
BBC bosses released further details about the upcoming special Jubilee episode, which will feature Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.
The royals will star as themselves in the upcoming episode and will see the royal couple join residents of Albert Square as they mark Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a street party.
The special scenes were filmed back in March when Charles and Camilla visited the set to meet the cast and crew of the long running BBC soap.
Fans will be able to watch the royal cameo on Thursday June 2, which marks the start of the four-day Jubilee bank holiday weekend.
The Jubilee episode of EastEnders will close with a royal adaptation of the soap’s classic theme tune, the broadcaster has now announced.
The regal tune will play during the end credits of Thursday’s show as residents celebrate the royal visit and toast the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
The Jubilee-themed tune was written by Simon May, who composed the original piece.
May has written other variations of the classic BBC soap opera theme tune, including one for one of the show’s creators Julia Smith and another for Barbara Windsor’s farewell episode as Peggy Mitchell.
But not all soap fans were ecstatic at the idea of the rewritten theme tune for the special occasion, with one taking to Twitter to write: “Please Don't Let Those Royals Mess With the Nostalgic EastEnders Theme Tune”
Another EastEnders fan joked: ‘Think this will send our Shirl over the edge!’.
A fellow fan wrote: “They really are hammering us over the head with it,” alongside a string of crying laughing emojis.
“Jubilee scenes already ruining my day”, another user tweeted.
‘Can they stop going on about the Jubilee? No one cares!!’, a fellow soap fan wrote in response to the EastEnders news.
But many fans commended the decision to make a few changes to the soap as the perfect way to celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
Reacting to the news, an EastEnders fan said: “Lovely. I do not accept any tinkering with the EastEnders theme tune, unless it is done by the peerless Simon May. Though nothing will ever out do Julia’s Theme.”
Another tweeted: “EastEnders is cool at the moment: the planning of the Jubilee and 'special guest' is funny and clever - good writing as ever from the best soap!”
The show’s executive producer Chris Clenshaw said: “To have Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall not only visit us all in Walford, but to also appear in an episode, we felt it was only right that we marked this extremely momentous episode with a fitting tribute.
"What better way than to wish their royal highnesses on their way from Albert Square than with a special Jubilee version of our iconic theme tune, remastered by the very talented Simon May.”
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One
