Why Barcelona v Liverpool was once delayed for EastEnders
Barcelona v Liverpool – as appealing a football match as you can see anywhere around the world.
Supporters of both teams, as well as neutral fans intrigued by what could happen at Camp Nou on Wednesday night, will be counting down the hours until the much-anticipated 8pm BST kick-off in their Champions League semi-final first leg.
Such was the case when the sides were set to meet in Catalunya at the same stage of the 2000-01 UEFA Cup on April 5, 2001.
But on that evening, as the tie between Liverpool and Barcelona was about to begin, another – altogether different – storyline was reaching a tense conclusion.
Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Rivaldo, Pep Guardiola and co would have to wait.
The reason? EastEnders.
“The BBC has negotiated a delayed kick-off for a European football match so viewers can find out who shot EastEnders’ Phil Mitchell without missing any of the football action,” it was announced in an article on the eve of the fixture.
The start of the match in Spain would be delayed until 8.15pm to allow viewers to enjoy both an extended episode of the UK soap opera – discovering Mitchell’s assailant after a five-week whodunnit – and then the whole game live from Camp Nou.
“We asked both sides nicely and they agreed to start later because of EastEnders,” said BBC Sport spokesman Mike Hales.
“It is a well-known programme so the Spanish realise it was important for the BBC.”
When the football finally got under way, Gerard Houllier’s Liverpool secured a goalless draw against Barcelona before beating the La Liga giants at Anfield a fortnight later en route to lifting the UEFA Cup as part of an historic treble.
This Wednesday’s match of course remains an 8pm kick-off.