EastEnders’ Lucy Beale murder – here’s what we’ve found out

Ever since Lucy Beale met her maker nine months ago in EastEnders, we’ve been wracking our brains trying to figure out who the culprit is.

And, now, thanks to another big clue being given at the National TV Awards, our speculation has reached an obsessive level (we’ve started using spider diagrams and highlighter pens, people. Yep.)

More EastEnders news? Sure thing!

On Wednesday night at the television awards, host Dermot O’Leary disclosed (via a burly security guard carrying a metal briefcase with a phone in it) that the last thing Lucy heard before she died was the music that played in her now infamous jewellery box – where she used to stash her cocaine.

So, with this extra clue, this is what (we think) we know for certain about the Lucy Beale Whodunnit [Puts on Poirot moustache]

Lucy was murdered at home

If the jewellery box music was the last thing Lucy heard then she must’ve been at home before she carked it, right? Unless, of course, she carried it around with her, which seems highly unlikely.

It was definitely murder

Any suspicions that it might be manslaughter, suicide or accidental death were ruled out when Emma Summerhayes, the copper, said: “it was murder” to the supposed murderer. We're no detectives but it seems pretty conclusive to us.

The person Emma met in the park didn’t kill Lucy

We don’t think the tree person Emma was speaking to was the murderer, but was someone who aided and abetted the crime. From the way she was talking to them, the person seemed younger than her and someone she knew well – like a Branning or a Beale.

But seriously who killed Lucy?

Look, we change our mind every three minutes, but at some point we have to stop sticking Post It notes to the wall and form an opinion. So, for now (and we totally reserve the right to change our minds) we have two main theories:

THEORY 1

It was JANE – either on her own or she was helping someone out.

But why would Jane kill Lucy?

Years ago Steven Beale (Lucy’s half brother) accidentally shot Jane with a gun Lucy gave him, which resulted in Jane being unable to have kids. To add insult to injury, Lucy subsequently fell pregnant, begged Jane to adopt the baby, before changing her mind and having an abortion. Bound to hack Jane off a bit, right?

What’s so fishy about her?

Jane had sex with Ian the day after Lucy died (a heinous crime in itself), yet didn’t bother going to Lucy’s funeral. It seems very odd she wouldn’t be there in Ian’s hour of need and the only plausible explanation is GUILT.

If she didn’t do it, why would she be helping the murderer?

Jane’s very loyal to her family, so she could be protecting Bobby, Cindy or – most likely – Peter (who was pretty furious that Lucy was Ian’s favourite). Jane hid Lucy’s phone, which contained messages from Peter about drugs, rather than handing it into the police. And she seems to be lying about seeing Lauren turn away from going to see Lucy on the night she died – is she simply trying to protect Peter’s fiancée?

Final thoughts.

Jane and Ian are getting married in February – the same month that Lucy’s murderer will be revealed. Jane being exposed as Lucy’s murderer/being involved in her death at the very moment Ian says, “I do”, would be soap gold. Plus, let's face it, the chances of Ian Beale living happily ever after are as slim as Alexa Chung.

THEORY 2

It was Abi and Max knows about it and is trying to cover her tracks.

How come Abi?

Abi’s been displaying some very strange behaviour recently – trying to drown sister Lauren at Halloween and dating killer Ben who is clearly gay. [See, CRAY-CRAY.] Also she ran over her pet dog, Tramp, and barely batted an eyelid. And you know what they say about people who hurt animals and don’t show emotion…

Reason to kill Lucy?

Her dad Max was having it off with Lucy, and Abi caught them out on camera. Having the Ginger Prince of Walford as your dad must be tough and Abi has suffered a lot as a result of Max's multiple infidelities. Maybe this finally tipped her over the edge…

Any evidence?

Abi was babysitting Beth on Christmas Eve, giving her plenty of time to plant the jewellery box under the Beales' Christmas tree.

Why do you think Max is involved?

He ripped up Emma’s case file and also got her sacked – which is all very suspicious. And, when Emma died, he told her he was “sorry”. SORRY FOR WHAT, MAX? HMM? HMM?!

Reckon you know who killed Lucy? Make like Patrick Truman and have a cheeky flutter – if you bet £10 you get £20 of free bets back. Click here for more.

Here are all the EastEnders suspects