EastEnders fans could be in with a chance of appearing on the soap as BBC bosses prepare to feature one of London’s iconic annual events for the first time in an upcoming special episode.
It emerged on Christmas Day that Jay Brown’s (Jamie Borthwick) late wife Lola (Danielle Harold) had enrolled him and Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) to run the London Marathon before she died from cancer.
Actor Jamie, 29, and his co-star Emma, 46, will actually run in the race when it takes place on Sunday 21 April.
However, they will be in character as they act out scenes for the programme, with the footage expected to air the following week.
This will be the first time the London Marathon has ever featured in EastEnders and it will give fans a chance to appear.
EastEnders fans could be in with a chance of appearing on the soap as BBC bosses prepare to feature one of London’s iconic annual events (L-R: Jamie Borthwick as Jay Mitchell, Isabella Brown as Lexi Mitchell and Sonny Kendall as Tommy Moon)
It emerged on Christmas Day that Jay Brown’s (Jamie Borthwick) late wife Lola (Danielle Harold) had enrolled him and Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) to run the London Marathon (L-R: Perry Fenwick as Billy Mitchell and Emma Barton as Honey)
As Jamie and Emma run along the route, those who line the streets to support the runners could be seen on screen.
Former EastEnders cast member Danielle Harold made an unexpected return for the Christmas Day episode last month.
The actress, 31, made a cameo in the BBC soap opera after her character Lola Pearce died in May following a battle with terminal brain cancer.
Lola made a posthumous return on Christmas Day as she appeared in an emotional video message recorded for her family before her death.
The scenes saw Lola speaking to her partner Jay and her daughter Lexi (Isabella Brown) as they opened their Christmas presents.
Lola told Jay to open his first as the family all sat around the living room, before Lexi told him he was going to be running the London Marathon.
She then said on the video: ‘You are going to smash this I promise, Lex, do not let him slack, OK?’
To which Lexi replied: ‘I won’t mum.’
Lola (played by Danielle Harold ) lost her battle to brain cancer in May
Just days before, Lola had appeared in another Christmas video message recorded for Jay.
She said: ‘Well I had to come and say hello, didn’t I? It’s that time of year again. Time of fun, laughter, magic. Wishes coming true.
‘And my wish for you is that your Christmas is everything that it should be. Fun, silly games, family bust-ups because it’s not Christmas without a family bust-up.
‘What I want to say to you is Merry Christmas. I don’t suppose it’s been all that merry though, has it?
‘Because when you love someone, when you really love someone, the thought of losing them makes you rage. There’s been times when I’ve wanted to kick off and burn everything down.
‘I suppose you’ve had some moments like that over the last few months, eh?
‘But that’s ok. You’re not a saint, and you don’t have to be. You’re just a lovely guy trying to hold his family together.
‘I can’t help being angry. I love you, and I always always will.’
Actress Danielle left the BBC soap opera earlier this year after her character Lola Pearce died following a heartbreaking battle with terminal brain cancer.
It was dubbed the ‘saddest ever’ exit by fans, and saw Danielle win Best Leading Performer the British Soap Awards.
