The nominations for the awards show - to be held on April 18 - aren't being announced until this Tuesday, but news of the soap's omission has already leaked out.
Since it was created five years ago, EastEnders has won in the category three times. Last year Coronation Street scooped the gong for the first time, and is now an odds-on favourite to repeat the success this year.
The other nominees include The Bill, Holby City and Casualty.
An unnamed Bafta member told the Daily Star that the soap had been left off the list because of the list because of its increasing reliance on "sensational" storylines. "EastEnders doesn't have a divine right to be nominated," said the source. "It was felt that the show had just become too outrageous in a bid to chase ratings."
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