EastEnders will air a fully-live episode to mark the soap's 40th anniversary this February, it has been announced.

The show has been bringing back a plethora of former characters in the run-up to the milestone occasion and will also have a huge week of storylines to mark four decades since the first ever episode on February 19, 1985.

The week will also include EastEnders' first ever interactive twist, as viewers will be able to vote on their preferred outcome of "a love story" which will then play out during the live episode.

"The 40th anniversary is a milestone event for EastEnders, and we have been planning this week for a long time to ensure that it's a week full of drama and surprises," said exec producer Chris Clenshaw.

"In fact, as our regular audience will know, we have already seen the return of familiar faces and have many more nods to our history to come which will all build up to our momentous anniversary week.

"This time, as well as going live, we are adding an extra twist and for the very first time in the history of the show and as a gift to the viewers, we are giving the audience the power to have their say in choosing the outcome of one of our storylines.

"Whilst we're still keeping the finite details of the 40th close to our chest, I can promise that it will be an unmissable week full of shocking twists that will change Albert Square, and the lives of those who live in it, forever."

The 40th anniversary live episode will mark the third time EastEnders has gone live, following on from the 25th anniversary in 2010 and the 30th in 2015.