[Scarlett.]

EastEnders is to pay tribute to Coronation Street by mentioning the rival soap on its 50th anniversary, DS can confirm.

The ITV show reaches its milestone on Thursday, December 9, when an hour-long live episode will air showing the aftermath of a tram crash disaster on the cobbles.

In an EastEnders episode airing on the night, Albert Square's Dot Branning (June Brown) will reference the show during a conversation with Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) in the launderette.

After Kat asks Dot whether she will be attending choir rehearsals that night, the Walford favourite replies: "Oh no, not tonight. Tonight I'm going to open a bag of marshmallows, share them with Jim and watch Corrie!"

She adds: "I love it, it's my favourite. Never miss it."

A Walford source told The Sun: "We did it as a tribute. Hopefully they will return the favour when we turn 50!"

The EastEnders episode in question will air immediately before Coronation Street's live transmission.

EastEnders and Coronation Street recently joined together for Children In Need special EastStreet, in which Walford and Weatherfield twinned with each other.