Bookmakers have predicted that more than £10 million will be gambled on what is being hailed as the biggest betting event in soap history, with William Hill seeing upwards of 2000 bets every day.

The hype has exceeded turnovers from previous whodunits including ‘Who Shot Phil Mitchell?’ and ‘Who Killed Archie?’

The suspects include serial womaniser Max Branning, who was having an affair with Lucy shortly before her hapless death. This also provides a motive for Max’s daughter Lauren, who may have learned of their fling and acted in anger.

Even Lucy’s own father is in the frame, along with younger brother Bobby, Peter Beale, Whitney Dean, Lee Carter, Jay Brown and even Denise Fox, who was thought to be in Oxford at the time of the killing.

Outsiders include Pam Coker and her undertaker husband Les - maybe he wanted another death on the square to boost business!

Jon Ivan-Duke, William Hill’s PR executive said:

“The biggest moves on the ‘killer’ betting during and immediately after last night’s show have been for four characters. Denise Fox has moved from 20/1 before last night’s show to 12/1 while Pam Coker has been supported from 20/1 to 14/1.

Cindy Beale has halved in price. At 4.45pm yesterday she was 12/1 to be the murderer, that cut to 8/1 during last night’s episode, while this morning the money has continued forcing our hand to 6/1.

Ian Beale is the number one mover. He’s now 5/1 from 12/1 and the biggest bet during last night’s episode was on him.”

Lucy Beale’s killer will finally be revealed to the nation in tonight’s live Eastenders episode. My money’s on Peter Beale at 12/1, who are you backing?