EastEnders seasonal scripts are stolen

EastEnders is preparing to celebrate 25 years on screen

Scripts for Christmas editions of EastEnders have been stolen in a burglary at the home of one of the soap's writers, the BBC has said.

Executive producer Diederick Santer said he is "keen" to recover the laptop which "contains the twists and turns of our exciting EastEnders Christmas".

Actors destroyed their scripts after filming seasonal scenes to minimise the risk of leaks to the press.

This year's specials will focus on dramatic events in the Queen Vic pub.

Jackson return

Precise details about the main storyline have been a closely-guarded secret.

The festive double bill will be screened on Christmas Day and often captures the soap's biggest audience of the year.

In 2007, EastEnders' Christmas special in which the long-running affair between Max and daughter-in-law Stacey was revealed attracted 14 million viewers and was the most-watched programme of the year.

The soap has also announced the return of Billie Jackson, first played by actor Devon Anderson as a six-year-old in 1993.

He will make a comeback to Albert Square along with mother Carol Jackson, sister Sonia - played by Natalie Cassidy - and Robbie Jackson (Dean Gaffney) early next year.

Carol's eldest daughter Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer, made a return to the series earlier this year.