Pat Evans gets own 'EastEnders' theme

Pat Evans' exit from 'EastEnders' on New Year's Day (01.01.12) is being marked with her own theme song.

'EastEnders' legend Pat Evans is getting her own theme song when she departs the soap on New Year's Day (01.01.12).

The character - who has been played by Pam St Clement since 1986 - dies in tragic scenes to be screened tomorrow in a special 70-minute episode after being diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier this week.

To mark the Walford battleaxe's passing, Simon May - who composed the BBC One show's iconic theme - has written a new piece of music entitled 'Pat's Theme' which will play over the closing credits.

A series source told Digital Spy: "It's only right that we pay tribute to such a character with a wonderfully touching special theme tune."

'EastEnders' is known to change the music for the closing credits on occasions where the episode has screened intense or particularly emotional scenes.

The alternative 'Julia's Theme' - named after one of the programme's creators Julia Smith - has been used numerous times for character departures and following heartbreaking events in Walford, including when Kat and Alfie Moon were reunited with their abducted son Tommy in April.

And Pat isn't the first character to be given her own theme song to mark their exit.

Pat's friend and occasional rival Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) left the Square to the notes of 'Peggy's Theme', a variation of 'Julia's Theme' written by May.