Overworked Eastenders are losing sleep

The EastEnders cast are getting as little as 12 hours between receiving scripts and filming, and therefore learning lines overnight, due to new boss Kathleen Hutchinson's making scriptwriters come up with new storylines to replace the ones she is binning.

An insider told The Mirror: "Storylines have been binned and scripts are being furiously rewritten and filming has fallen behind schedule.

"The cast are only getting to see their lines for the following morning's filming less than 24 hours before. They are having to stay up for most of the night learning them the best they can.

"Obviously they are being very professional and really working hard to make sure things go smoothly.

"However, it's inevitable mistakes are being made on set because of the lateness of scripts and this means filming takes longer than expected."

A spokesperson for the show argued that: "Scripts are prepared months in advance but there is always the possibility that a final version can change prior to filming as, with most dramas, we endeavour to make the scripts as strong as possible."