EastEnders will reportedly drop off the air in just two weeks' time as the effects of the coronavirus shutdown finally catch up with the soap.

Filming stopped on the drama in mid-March, just before the UK entered full lockdown, and the BBC responded by cutting down the number of episodes broadcast per week from four to two.

According to The Sun, the broadcaster has just five completed episodes left on the shelf and as a result it will come off the air on Tuesday, June 16.

Filming is not due to resume until the end of this month, meaning that the soap could be off air for around six weeks as the cast and crew work flat out to produce new material.

The news means that the popular soap will not be part of the BBC One weekly schedules for the first time in its 35-year history.

While EastEnders is being forced into a break, ITV counterparts Coronation Street and Emmerdale have managed to successfully avoid going off air for the time being, having already restarted production.

> Spoilers: Next week on the lockdown episodes of Emmerdale (June 8, 10)