Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell suffer ANOTHER grisly fate in alternate ending for EastEnders New Year's Day episode... after fans praise the iconic duo's shock exit from the soap

• e-mail

EastEnders fans were left heartbroken by Sunday night's shocking scenes.

But there were more devastating moments to come for the soap's iconic duo Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell, as the BBC soap aired an alternate ending for the sisters on their Snapchat channel.

Viewers saw the Mitchell sisters, played by Samantha Womack and Rita Simons, drown in the New Year's Day episode, but not long after the dramatic scenes aired on TV, another equally grisly ending was shown online.

Here we go again! EastEnders aired an alternate ending for characters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell on their Snapchat channel on Sunday night, shortly after their shock exit aired on TV

EastEnders had been teasing the alternate ending all night, but viewers hoping for a more positive exit for the popular characters were left disappointed.

Instead the brief alternate scene, saw newlywed Ronnie in tears at a hospital, before a cut to Roxy lying motionless on a snooker table.

It appeared that Roxy, who had battled a drugs problem, had died of an overdose, with her sister Ronnie and her husband Jack Branning seen staring at her body in shock.

Tears: The BBC soap had been teasing the alternate ending all night, but viewers hoping for a more positive exit for the popular characters were left disappointed

Some fans were fuming with the soap for delaying the alternate ending, which eventually appeared on Snapchat moments after Sherlock finished on BBC One.

And after they finally got to see the new ending, fury turned to confusion as many fans tweeted the show to ask what Ronnie's survival meant for the soap.

'that snapchat has made me even more confused now, can you explain please?! #eastenders,' tweeted one bemused viewer, while another added:  

Overdose? The brief alternate scene, saw newlywed Ronnie in tears at a hospital, before a cut to Roxy lying motionless on a snooker table

Fury: Some fans were fuming with the soap for delaying the alternate ending, which eventually appeared on Snapchat moments after Sherlock finished on BBC One

'Dont know whats worse: The fact Eastenders didnt use Ronnie survived ending or that it was only 5 secs long after all the Snapchat build-up!' 

It was an emotional night all round for fans of the soap, with many left in tears by the televised ending for the Mitchell sisters. 

It was first announced that the pair would be leaving the soap after ten years in August.  

The sisters ended up dead in a swimming pool hours after Ronnie's wedding - which left fans praising the 'sad but beautiful' ending, and venting their devastation at their departure.

Farewell: Iconic EastEnders duo Ronnie and Roxy finally met their gruesome end on Sunday as the pair drowned in the show's dramatic New Year's Day episode

The explosive episode saw Ronnie walk down the aisle to marry Jack Branning, played by Scott Maslen, for the second time.

However while she and her sister Roxy, who has recently turned to substance abuse, suffered a fall out mid-way through the ceremony, it was not until the episode's end that the real drama began. 

After the wedding party, the blonde siblings ventured up to the hotel roof for a drink together above the pool.   

Dramatic: While Ronnie and Roxy, who has recently turned to substance abuse, suffered a fall out during the wedding ceremony, it was not until the episode's end that the real drama began

Chatting and laughing together, a drunk Roxy decided to enjoy a late night dip in the pool - seconds after ominously stating that it was 'the end of an era'. 

Plunging into the water, it soon became clear to viewers that the troubled character had become motionless - causing Ronnie to leap in after her.

However still clad in her wedding dress and veil, the newlywed began to struggle against the material, when viewers heard a spine-tingling scream from under the water as she began to drown.

Tense: After Roxy fell into the pool from the roof, becoming motionless in the water, her sister Ronnie leaped in after her

Bad to worse: However the newlywed began to struggle against the material of her veil

Adding to the dramatic and heartbreaking effect, the sequence was played out beside Jack reading the story of Cinderella to the kids as he waited for his wife to return.

The scene ended with the sisters motionless in the dark and murky water, floating side by side in death.

The chilling double death was met with a huge reaction on Twitter - with endless fans praising their tragic but eerily beautiful end.

Chilling: Viewers then heard a spine-tingling scream from under the water as she began to drown

Farewell: The scene ended with the sisters motionless in the dark and murky water, floating side by side in death

Heartbreaking: Adding to the dramatic and heartbreaking effect, the sequence was played out beside Jack reading the story of Cinderella to the kids as he waited for his wife to return

One viewer wrote: 'The ending scene for Ronnie and Roxy's death was sad, but beautiful at the same time, really artistic. #EastEnders'

While another agreed, adding: 'Nah EastEnders did the most with the visuals. That last shot of Roxy and Ronnie in the pool was iconic. Truly sensational. Art' 

Meanwhile another user took to the site to express her devastation at their departure, writing: 'Ronnie's whole story has to be the saddest story of any soap character. They've never given her a happy ending. #Eastenders' 

Frenzy: The chilling double death was met with a huge reaction on Twitter

Amazed: Many fans praised their tragic but eerily and visually beautiful end

However not all viewers were satisfied with the pair's finale, with many also criticising the ending as ridiculous and over-the-top.

One disgruntled fan wrote: 'So Ronnie & Roxy got drunk and then drowned in a pool. What a poor ending for truly one of the greatest double acts ever been in #eastenders'

While another added: 'Ronnie has survived car crashes, rape and prison yet she can't even survive getting tangled in her wedding dress underwater #eastenders'

Gutted: Others expressed their devastation at the departure

Mixed reviews: However not all viewers were satisfied with the pair's finale, with many also criticising the ending as ridiculous and over-the-top

Both actresses tweeted about their devastation after their final episode aired, with Samantha telling fans:  'I'm sorry I can't respond to any comments..I'm honestly broken. An appropriate end to the darkest year ever.@OfficialRita @RealScottMaslen (sic).'

Rita added: 'Thank you all for your lovely tweets. I don't really have words right now. But words will come.. in good time #R&R (sic).'

And Scott added: 'End of an era! #ronnieandroxy loved working with @sam_womack and @OfficialRita #eastenders #sadtimes thanks for all the tweets! (sic).'

Danny Dyer, who portrays pub landlord Mick Carter on the soap, also took to Twitter after the dramatic scenes aired.

Heartbroken: Both actresses tweeted about their devastation after their final episode aired

He wrote: 'Two beautifully complex Eastenders Icons. On screen chemistry personified. Nothing but love for ya's #missed. @Sam_Womack @OfficialRita X (sic).' 

Rita recently admitted that while the ending is set to be incredibly emotional, the pair are ready to bid farewell to the soap after such a long stint.

Speaking to The Sun, she revealed: 'I know in my heart of hearts it's the right thing to do. I needed to get out. I needed to spread my wings. But because they're like my family there, you don't want to leave them.

However she admitted she would really miss her best friend Samantha, 44, on set, who she has spent most stints of filming with over the last decade.

She added: 'I've spent more time with Sam than I have with my husband and my kids. The thought of leaving her breaks my heart.' 

End of an era: Rita Simons (L) recently admitted that while the ending is set to be incredibly emotional, the pair are ready to bid farewell to the soap after such a long stint