EastEnders Revealed The Queen Vic's New Owner In Its 'Series 1 Finale' And It Was All Sorts Of Iconic

The soap fell off the air for the first time in 35 years due to the pandemic, but what a final episode.
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After 35 years, EastEnders fell off the air for the first time in its history on Tuesday night, finally running out of episodes that were filmed prior to coronavirus shutting down production.

But what a final doof-doof moment it gifted fans.

The episode saw the ongoing sale of the Queen Vic come to a head, with the pub’s new owner was revealed as Sharon Mitchell in the final moments.

Sharon Mitchell is the new owner of the Queen Vic
Sharon Mitchell is the new owner of the Queen Vic
BBC

Over the last few months, fans have seen current landlords Mick and Linda Carter deciding to sell their beloved boozer in order to help Linda’s recovery from alcoholism.

Originally, they had planned to sell it to Phil Mitchell, as he plotted a fresh start for himself and his wife Sharon, following her affair with Keanu Taylor.

However, their relationship fell apart again last week, when Phil refused to accept Sharon’s decision to keep her lovechild with Keanu.

With Linda feeling uncomfortable with the idea of Phil owning the Vic after how he had treated her best mate Sharon, they pulled out of the sale, prompting a hunt for a new owner.

In the final episode, fans saw Mick inform Phil the deal was off, before introducing him to the new landlady, with Sharon perched behind the bar.

“Hello Phil, what can I get ya?” she purred to her estranged husband, as they exchanged glares before the famous drums kicked in for the last time in a number of months.

“Hello Phil, what can I get ya?” #EastEnders pic.twitter.com/KhANOUZTAN

— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) June 16, 2020

The extremely camp moment delighted long-term fans of the show...

Sharon is the new landlady. THANK YOU 😍😂 #EastEnders

— Ryan 😜 (@Ryanmonaghan16) June 17, 2020

To mark this special occasion and a new era for Sharon, I have a new quote in my header....#EastEnders pic.twitter.com/5hTAr1E8N8

— ALESSIA (@always_mourning) June 16, 2020

“Hello, Phil! What can I getcha?” - Sharon Watts 2020, Series 1, Finale, EastEnders. #EastEnders pic.twitter.com/POiqykiZn0

— The Landlady (@SharonWattss) June 16, 2020

Loved the last episode before Lockdown, you couldnt have planned tonights episode better. . Great that Sharon has the Pub, its come full circle. Well done Eastenders

— Dawn Taylor (@DawnTay44989384) June 16, 2020

Perfect ending! Sharon! Behind! The Bar! Already iconic! Can't wait for it to come back and see her in action. To be continued... #eastenders

— Corey Terrett (@terrettcorey) June 16, 2020

Still hyped over that ending! Sharon back at the heart of the show in the Queen Vic is just what we need to get us through the rest of 2020 #Eastenders

— Dominic Powell (@dominicpowell94) June 17, 2020

YESSSSSS 🎉 what an iconic way to end! Sharon got what she deserved roll on when it returns #EastEnders pic.twitter.com/8tTytXBVDK

— GILBYP (@GilbyPPPP) June 16, 2020

Sharon running the Vic and that "what can i get ya?" YASSS QUEEN END HIM👑👑thats what ya get when u mess with sharon, phil 🙋🏻♀️✌🏻😂 #EastEnders

— Emma Swan❤️ Ballum💙 (@WinchesterSmoak) June 16, 2020

What a twist Sharon behind the bar buying the pub can’t believe it ended like that for now. Well done @bbceastenders can’t wait to see you back on screen👏🏻👏🏻 #EastEnders pic.twitter.com/OsDLn1bf6m

— Cara🤱🏻 (@Cara_lennon94) June 16, 2020

And they noted how it was the perfect cliffhanger for the show to end on...

That perfect ending is still on my mind! Couldn’t have written a better cliffhanger for us to end on 👸🏼 #Sharon #EastEnders pic.twitter.com/qspXrwYGZV

— Rich (@MrRichieW) June 17, 2020

Perfect final scene for the last #EastEnders of 2020 BC. No huge cliffhanger but leaves it feeling like one chapter has closed and another opened. If any show needs a reset it’s this one. Don’t mess it up! pic.twitter.com/cEppP8Kxuj

— Alan 🏳️🌈 (@veryalan) June 17, 2020

stealing @rudemrlang's observation here, but that would have even been the perfect final beat if EastEnders was ending FOREVER. Couldn't have planned it better!

— Shaun Kitchener (@ShaunKitchener) June 16, 2020

#LetitiaDean & @AdamWoodyatt were involved in the last #DoofDoof of series 1.
This is more iconic than people may realise: Letitia & Adam were in the very first episode, to bow out with them is a perfect fitting to @BBCEastEnders' rich history. They started and ended #EastEnders. pic.twitter.com/87Mg15dqbO

— Andy Gibson (@AndyGibsonTV) June 16, 2020

That was such a perfect ending that I wonder if they had other episodes ready to air but decided to end it there. Either way, well played #EastEnders. Well played.

— Elliot Gonzalez (@elliot_gonzalez) June 16, 2020

The moment also mirrored how Sharon was unveiled as the Vic landlady back in 2000, when she first took over the pub from arch enemy Peggy Mitchell...

Making history. #EastEnders pic.twitter.com/CBKJFC5nWw

— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) June 16, 2020

However, with Ian Beale looking to have funded the purchase of the Vic for Sharon, fans also predicted the arrangement could be short-lived, as Ian is currently hiding the fact he is actually responsible for Sharon’s son Denny’s death during the boat crash in February...

YES! So pleased Sharons behind the bar again! Tbh I wasn’t expecting Ian to help out! I take it Ians bought it right for Sharon? Wait till Dotty tells Sharon about Denny. Shit will hit the fan! #EastEnders

— Deedee Richardz (@deedee_dgr) June 16, 2020

I can't see Sharon's and Ian's friendship lasting though because wouldn't surprise me now if Dotty does tell Sharon what really happened on the boat. She'll want revenge after Ian basically threatening and grassing her up to the police.

— Kelly Gray 🐕🦄🎨🖼️🇬🇧📱🎶 (@kelsa18) June 16, 2020

Oh, but wait until Sharon and Phil find out about Ian's involvement with Denny's death. I see a future water dunking for Ian. #EastEndersToBeContinued #EastEnders

— BovaryCee ♋️🌻🙋🏾♀️ (@BovarysComplnt) June 16, 2020

Others weren’t fancying her chances of having a profitable business, as she will have had to close the pub’s doors due to coronavirus...

Sharon is smug here, but the next day she was told to close indefinitely, had to furlough her staff and didn’t qualify for a government grant because the Vic has a rateable value of over £51k #EastEnders pic.twitter.com/lWE2xraL0j

— Hun-derrated (@Hun_derrated) June 16, 2020

The way Sharon and ian bought the vic just as a national lockdown would have started meaning they probably had about 3 days of being open #EastEnders

— grace🌻🐝 (@_lilacskiesx) June 16, 2020

sharon may think she has the upper hand & im sure she will rise like a phoenix... but wot a time to buy a pub! 🤷🏼♀️😂🙈 is the vic doing takeaway food & speciality cocktails? #eastenders #lockdown @bbceastenders

— claire (@littleblonde87) June 16, 2020

EastEnders is due to resume production at its studios in Elstree, Hertfordshire later this month, but with strict social distancing rules in place.

While it hasn’t been officially confirmed when new episodes will start airing, speculation has suggested the soap could be off air until September.

Bosses previously cut the number of episodes from four to two episodes per week to keep the show on as long as possible during the pandemic.

They have confirmed it will resume airing four times a week when it returns, although the episodes will have a shorter runtime of 20 minutes.

To plug the gap in the meantime, behind-the-scenes specials fronted by Stacey Dooley will air on Monday nights, as she chats to members of the cast.

Letitia Dean, Adam Woodyatt, Danny Dyer, Diane Parish, Tameka Empson and Kellie Bright have already been confirmed as among those taking part.

On Tuesday nights, BBC One will also screen “a selection of iconic episodes including the classic two-hander between Den and Angie, Sharongate and the explosive reveal of Max and Stacey’s affair”.

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