BBC One viewers experienced a moment of pure television whiplash on Thursday evening when an Eastenders star made an unexpected appearance on ITV's The Chase just hours after their character's dramatic on-screen moment.
The Bradley Branning Confusion
Fans tuning into Eastenders witnessed the emotional 20th-anniversary episode featuring the tragic death of Bradley Branning, played by actor Charlie Clements. The character's dramatic fall from the Queen Vic roof provided one of the soap's most memorable moments.
Yet in a bizarre scheduling clash, mere hours after Bradley's on-screen demise, viewers spotted Charlie Clements very much alive and well as a contestant on ITV's popular quiz show The Chase.
Viewer Reactions Speak Volumes
Social media platforms exploded with confusion as viewers struggled to process the contradictory appearances. One baffled viewer tweeted: "Seeing Bradley from Eastenders on The Chase right after watching him die on BBC is proper messing with my head!"
Another commented: "Talk about breaking the illusion! One minute he's falling off a roof, the next he's chasing cash on ITV. The magic of television is well and truly gone."
The Broadcasting Timeline Explained
The confusion stems from the different recording schedules of both shows. While Eastenders episodes air close to their filming dates, game shows like The Chase are recorded months in advance. This created the perfect storm for the scheduling clash that left viewers questioning reality.
Charlie Clements had actually filmed his The Chase appearance long before shooting Bradley Branning's dramatic exit from the popular soap opera.
A Memorable Television Moment
Despite the initial confusion, the bizarre coincidence provided entertainment gold for many viewers. The unexpected crossover became one of the most talked-about television moments of the week, sparking conversations about programme scheduling and the behind-the-scenes reality of television production.
While Bradley Branning may be gone from Walford, Charlie Clements proved he's very much still in the game - both literally and figuratively - with his appearance on the popular quiz show creating an unforgettable night of television for British viewers.
