Soap fans were thoroughly peeved off last night, when Brexit got in the way of their evening’s entertainment.
On Tuesday night (12 March), MPs gathered to cast their vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal – and the resulting breaking news threw the BBC schedules into chaos.
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EastEnders was supposed to air at 7.30pm as usual, but was shifted at the last minute because of the important political updates.
Those tuning in to see Jean Slater’s fate, were instead met with a News Special detailing the Prime Minister’s catastrophic Brexit defeat by 149 votes.
MPs will now vote on No Deal tonight, which may well impact on the TV schedules yet again.
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The BBC1 official Twitter page informed its 1.38million followers of the news, posting the message: “There are changes to tonight’s schedule to accommodate a News Special.”
While EastEnders fans only had to wait half an hour, Holby City fans were livid when the medical drama was axed completely.
Instead, it will air next week on Tuesday and Wednesday.
There are changes to tonight’s schedule to accommodate a News Special.
7-8pm – News Special
8pm – EastEnders
8.30pm – Would I Lie To You?
9pm – Shetland
10pm – News At Ten
10.45pm – Eating With My ExHolby City will air next week instead on Tue & Wed.
— BBC One (@BBCOne) March 12, 2019
Viewers were absolutely furious with the changes, with many pointing out that the BBC has its own dedicated news channel that could have reported on the Brexit vote instead.
When the official BBC Holby City Twitter account posted the news, fans were quick to show their disappointment.
One said: “WHAT?????? Holby is way more important!!!”
Another fumed: “It’s now 19.46 and they have rehashed everything that could ever be repeated about Brexit and have another 15 minutes before Holby was due to start. Why does it need to be cancelled?”
how very dare they ruin my Tuesday evening and highlight of the week 😡😡😡😡😡
— Shell Walsh🦋 (@walshshell) March 12, 2019
Shocking and unnecessary! 😱 It's at times like this we need to be able to have an hour of immersion in Holby instead of an hour going over the same ground with same argument we've all heard before over a vote with a predictable result 😴 #BrexitBlues #BringBackHolbyASAP
— Lenni8 (@Lenni4luv) March 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/alij_price/status/1105553284666920960
Actually fuming… I feel like crap and I’d been looking forward to Holby all day… However, now it’s not on due to the almighty cock up that is ‘Brexit’. Surely this should have all been discussed and sorted BEFORE the feckin vote happened! #Holby #HolbyCity @BBCHolbyCity
— Beck (@NewFoundWings) March 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/toongirl/status/1105743811827900416
Whats haopen to tonight's #Holby😡
— Dem10 (@Marnicks2002) March 12, 2019
A third complained: “Oh for God’s sake – priorities people – @BBCHolbyCity is far more important than listening to a group of old windbags who couldn’t organise a [bleep] up in a brewery.”
“How very dare they ruin my Tuesday evening and highlight of the week?” protested another.
EastEnders fans were equally as vocal, with one typing: “BBC, I don’t care about Brexit. Where’s #EastEnders?”
Me finding out BBC News and Brexit have replaced #Eastenders pic.twitter.com/gfiJYwAMxy
— Kelly Booth (@Kelz_Boo) March 12, 2019
BBC, I don't care about Brexit. Where's #EastEnders? 😂
— Craig ⒸⓉ (@CtTweets08) March 12, 2019
Well it's safe to say, it's #Brexit fault that #Eastenders isn't on!
— Shaun Norris (@Shaun1979Norris) March 12, 2019
When BBC have a while news channel dedicated to guess what… NEWS but doesn't even use it SMH
— Scott (Alatar) (@AlatarUNITE) March 12, 2019
Viewers pointed out that the schedule could have been sorted out in advance as the Brexit vote had been planned all day, while others begged EastEnders and Holby to be shown on BBC2 instead.
But we’re not sure what Inside The Factory and The Great British Sewing Bee fans would have thought about that!
Do you think the Brexit vote was more important than the soaps? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!