IF there's one thing EastEnders fans have learnt over the years, it's that a Walford marriage is very rarely for life.

The show's first wedding between Michelle Fowler and Lofty Holloway seemed doomed from the start.

Michelle jilted Lofty at the altar, then had a change of heart, but the marriage didn't last long after Michelle had an abortion.

Pat and Frank Butcher, were involved in three weddings over the years, with the first in 1989. Then, Pat went on to marry Roy Evans and Frank married Peggy.

In 1991, Ricky Butcher and Sam Mitchell eloped to Gretna Green, while soon after, Sam's brother Grant married Sharon Watts, then went on to marry Tiffany in 1996.

Brother Phil married Nadia Borovac in 1993, Kathy Beale in 1995, Kate Morton in 2003 and, in 2007, he almost married Stella Crawford.

Ian Beale has survived 25 years in the soap and four marriages.

Straightforward relationships have always been far from scriptwriters' minds. In 2003, Alfie Moon raced to stop Kat Slater marrying gangster Andy Hunter. They married, but later split, and Alfie started a relationship with Kat's sister Little Mo.

The pair finally got back together before leaving the Square in 2005 and are set to return later this year.

This month, history is set to repeat itself, as often happens in the show, when Ricky and Bianca tie the knot again, to coincide with the show’s 25th anniversary.