The BBC has denied it is planning to introduce a fifth weekly episode of EastEnders.

A report in yesterday's Sunday People claimed that the extra episode would begin in the Summer, following a string of ratings victories over its ITV rival Coronation Street.

A spokesman played down the reports, however; adding that more crew were being brought on to deal with the increased workload of the fourth weekly episode, which started in August.

"There have been no discussions," he told the Media Guardian. "It has not been looked at. It's not even been looked into terms of feasability. We are employing more people to cope with the workload of the fourth episode."