EastEnders two-hander episodes are singular episodes of the BBC soap opera EastEnders that feature only two members of the cast for the duration. Scripted like mini-plays, two-hander episodes have become a tradition in EastEnders over the years, dating back to a groundbreaking episode in 1986, which featured publicans Den Watts and Angie Watts. Devoting an entire half an hour of drama to just two characters had previously been unheard of in a bi-weekly serial before this episode aired, but it set a precedent for the programme and it has featured two-handers ever since.
Typically, the episodes feature revelations and major character changes to an important relationship, and intense interactions between two prominent characters. Structuring the episode in this way allows for in-depth focus on a specific character or storyline that would be impossible to achieve in the fast-moving and rapidly cut regular episodes.
Practically, these episodes were originally created for speedy filming purposes, as while the two actors were filming the two-hander, the remaining cast could be filming another episode.
Two-hander episodes Den and Angie Watts (16 October 1986) The first two-hander features Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) and Angie Watts (Anita Dobson) and is structured like a tennis match, with a non-speaking window cleaner forever strolling innocently into the action. The episode was written by Jane Hollowood and directed by Antonia Bird. This episode was watched by 14.0 million viewers in its original broadcast."Angie – six months to live ", BBC. URL last accessed on 31 October 2006. Writers chose to give Den and Angie a two-hander episode due to their popularity.From EastEnders to Hollywood: Antonia Bird , BBC Four, 26 May 2016.
Den and Angie's marriage has broken down, and before the episode, Den finally decides to end the marriage and leave Angie for his mistress, Jan Hammond (Jane How). The episode begins with Den trying to talk to Angie to tell her that he wants to leave her and get a divorce but not before Angie tries to continue with a "normal" life in vain; within the opening moments of the episode Angie switches on the washing machine and throughout the back and forth between Angie and Den the audience hears the cycle progress, almost as a soundtrack. The thundering spin cycle often plays alongside Angie or Den screaming and shouting and the gentle wash action plays alongside the more tender moments. Angie stalls but Den persists and explains to her that he wants a clean break from her, their pub, The Queen Victoria, Albert Square and Walford. Den tells Angie that he shall get another pub through a deal with James Willmott-Brown (William Boyde) and Jan would be doing the books. Angie is shocked and feels defeated, but she then reveals that she is terminally ill with only six months to live. Den does not believe her, but Angie explains her story to Den; Angie's hysterical performance eventually convinces him. Den crumbles and promises to stay with her, adding that he will kill Angie if she is lying. Consumed by guilt, Den asks Angie for her forgiveness. As Den leaves Angie alone and takes their dog Roly for a walk, she gives a deranged smile, revealing that she has been lying to Den. Although this is always referred to as a "two hander", in fact another actor also appears in the episode. The window cleaner, who contributes to the dramatic tension by causing the warring couple to move from room to room, was played by Kevin Walsh who, because of qualms about billing at the end of the episode, was only credited onscreen at the end of the omnibus edition broadcast on the Sunday.
Dot Cotton and Ethel Skinner (2 July 1987)
The second two-hander features old friends Dot Cotton (June Brown) and Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin) babysitting Vicki Fowler (Emma Herry) one rainy afternoon. This episode centres around nostalgia and growing old and was scripted to show the sadness behind the often comical characters of Dot and Ethel. The episode was written by Charlie Humphreys and directed by Mike Gibbon, a future producer of the show.
While baby Vicki sleeps, Dot and Ethel reminisce about their lives during World War II and share secrets from their girlhoods. During the war Ethel was 17 and remained in London where she witnessed the death of her family, who were killed by a German doodlebug. Dot was evacuated to Wales when she was three years old and stayed with a couple she called Auntie Gwen and Uncle Will, who wanted to adopt her. Dot later confesses that she had an abortion soon after she married Charlie Cotton (Christopher Hancock) because he told her he would leave her if she kept the baby. This causes a furious Dr. Harold Legg (Leonard Fenton) to punch Charlie on the nose in The Queen Victoria public house. Towards the end of the episode Dot goes out to the shop for a loaf bread and some fig rolls. When she returns Ethel is asleep and Dot thinks she has died and begins weeping and reciting the Lord's Prayer. When Ethel rouses, Dot panics and Ethel has to slap her out of it. Ethel then tearfully reminisces about her dead husband William and the past. As the episode ends, Dot and Ethel tend to Vicki while singing.
Sharon Watts and Michelle Fowler (4 April 1989) The third two-hander features the best friends Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully). In the aftermath of Sharon's adoptive father, Den Watts' (Leslie Grantham) apparent death, the two friends start an evening at home with a bottle of wine and their memories. This episode was written by Tony McHale and directed by Mike Gibbon.
After Den's supposed murder, Sharon begins to speculate about the identity of the mysterious woman who had been seen with him prior to his death. When Sharon tells Michelle that she felt that she and her daughter Vicki Fowler (Samantha Leigh Martin) were now her family, Michelle blurts out a secret that she has been keeping for over three years – that Den is Vicki's father and that she is the mystery woman who was seen with Den before his death. Michelle thought Sharon would be comforted to know that she is Vicki's sister, and that a part of Den lives on in Vicki. However, Sharon takes the news very badly, feeling hurt, angry and deceived. After slapping Michelle and having an emotional showdown, Sharon leaves their flat wishing that Michelle had never told her.
In 2024, Radio Times placed the episode as their fifth best EastEnders two-hander, describing Michelle's secret as "one of the best-kept secrets in soap history".
Grant and Phil Mitchell (15 November 1994)
This episode features the Mitchell brothers, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp). Following Grant's discovery that Phil had slept with his wife, Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean), Grant has beaten Phil so badly that he is hospitalised with a dangerous blood clot to the brain. Phil is rushed into surgery, and the clot is removed. As Grant sits with his brother, the two make a pact and promise to never let a woman come between them again.
As Phil awakes from his surgery he finds his brother sleeping next to him, holding his hand. Grant awakes and instantly gets defensive claiming that he is only there because their friend Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) had persuaded him. As the two start talking Grant begins to reminisce about the past when a girl he was dating came onto Phil, and Phil told him. Grant asks Phil if this is the situation with Sharon; Phil denies this, but Grant continues to call Sharon a slut, blaming her for the whole affair. Phil attempts to dispute this, but his protests fall on deaf ears. Grant proceeds to ask Phil how easy Sharon was to seduce, but Phil is hesitant to answer. After continual pestering, Phil becomes agitated and tells Grant that Sharon is easy and that he didn't even have to get out of first gear.
They then begin to talk about their relationship, how people used to hate them because they were so close and could do anything together and that this was always Sharon's problem. After they reminisce about their many conquests with women, Grant returns to the topic of Sharon, revealing that he plans to crush her "like a table tennis ball" and make her pay for what she's done. Phil warns him not to do anything stupid, which angers Grant, who accuses Phil of sticking up for Sharon, though Phil assures him he is merely concerned for his welfare. He persuades Grant that if the two of them do not stick together, Grant will end up back in prison. He promises Grant that he will do anything for him and as Grant begins to weep, Phil promises that from now on, it will be just the two of them.
Pat Evans and Peggy Mitchell (27 October 1998) This episode features Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) and Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor). Peggy is on the warpath after being told about a fabricated affair between her fiancé Frank (Mike Reid) and his ex-wife Pat. However, Pat has other concerns, namely that her husband, Roy Evans (Tony Caunter), has driven off like a suicidal maniac nearly hitting her in the process. As Frank speeds off after Roy, Pat and Peggy wait it out in the Evans household and make clear their feelings towards each other.
Pat is in shock about Roy nearly hitting her, but convinces herself that he merely didn't see her. Peggy is unsure and comments that running her down is cheaper than divorce, and suggests that Roy has also found out about her affair. Pat insists that nothing has happened between her and Frank, but Peggy requires a lot of convincing, and they both trade insults with each other. Pat tells Peggy that Frank talked about her a lot, but Peggy cannot accept this and when Pat leaves the room for a bath, Peggy begins to sob. Pat eventually joins her and Peggy accuses her of still loving Frank. Pat does not deny this, but claims she has moved on and knows when to give up on something. Peggy is convinced that Frank has feelings for Pat too.
After opening a bottle of wine Pat begin to feel sorry for herself, saying that she is cursed and turns rich, happy men into disasters – Roy is broke and impotent, whereas Frank, who has spent a couple of years away from her, has returned to his old virile self. Peggy is amazed to discover that Roy is impotent and Pat is quick to point out that sex is not important and she is happy to have finally found a man who wants her to settle down.
After the police arrive to inform Pat that their search for Roy has been fruitless, Peggy pesters them for information, which leads her to suspect that Roy has come to harm. Now feeling more sympathetic, Peggy goes to converse with Pat, but the atmosphere soon becomes frosty as each begins to recount their wonderful times with Frank. Pat further antagonizes Peggy by saying that she could have slept with Frank if she'd wanted to the night before, as he still fancied her and the least encouragement would have sufficed. The argument continues, with Pat branding Peggy "mutton dressed as lamb" and Peggy blaming Pat's appearance for Roy's impotence. Their rowing finally descends into violence as both women throw wine glasses at each other and begin to fight, with Peggy flipping kitchen table to clear the way to attack Pat. The episode ends with Pat slapping Peggy, saying "You bitch!" and Peggy slapping Pat right back, exclaiming "You cow!", right as the doorbell rings.
Roy Evans and Frank Butcher (29 October 1998)
Occurring simultaneously to the previous two-hander featuring Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) and Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor), this episode features Roy Evans (Tony Caunter) and Frank Butcher (Mike Reid). After Roy speeds off, nearly hitting Pat with his car, Frank follows him and forces him to rethink a drastic decision.