EastEnders viewers are convinced they have uncovered the true identity of Lee Carter's ex-girlfriend Jess, with many predicting she is secretly Janine Butcher.
The theory comes as Lee (Danny Hatchard) and his sister Nancy (Maddy Hill) returned to Walford in a new surrogacy plot. Nancy arrived earlier this week seeking legal advice from her younger brother Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff), insisting their mum Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) should not know she was there.
However, when Nancy felt stomach pains and visited the hospital, Linda soon caught up with her and was stunned to see she was pregnant. Later that day, Nancy appeared at Peacock Palace with the father of her baby, her older brother Lee.
Surrogacy twist and split
It was soon revealed that Nancy was acting as a surrogate for Lee and his partner Jess after they suffered multiple miscarriages. In another twist, Lee and Jess had since broken up, with Nancy seeking legal advice about custody of the unborn child as Lee wishes to raise the baby alone.
Lee later received a call from Jess, who insisted their baby had nothing to do with her. "Why are you calling me? I ain't telling you where I am. My family and this baby have nothing to do with you anymore," Lee told Jess during a heated exchange. He added, "Don't call me again, Jess," before hanging up.
Fans predict Janine return
On Wednesday (October 7), Lee enjoyed a night out with his oldest pal Callum Highway (Tony Clay) and was dismissive about his breakup with Jess, leaving Linda worried. She probed her son about the reasons for the breakdown, especially since they are expecting a baby together, but Lee remained tight-lipped about Jess.
Despite claiming she no longer had Jess' phone number, Linda suggested they look for her, and since Lee could not get himself out of a lie, he reluctantly agreed.
EastEnders viewers are now convinced that Jess' true identity is Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), who was once engaged to Lee's dad Mick Carter (Danny Dyer). Janine has a history of lying about her identity, once masquerading as a Jewish orphan named Judith Bernstein. In 2022, she was sentenced to five years in prison for various crimes, including perverting the course of justice, and gave birth to Mick's baby while in prison.
Taking to X, fans predicted Jess' identity, with one person writing: "Do you think Jess is someone who we know? Got a theory that Jess could be Janine." A second stated: "Could those press shots with a church in the background and Linda with Janine be a christening for baby Carter? #eastenders." A third added: "Is Jess going to turn out to be Janine #EastEnders", while another explained: "Urm a thought just came into my head. What if Lee is with Janine? #EastEnders."
"What if Lee’s partner is Janine but she introduced herself to him as Judith Bernstein??? #eastenders", added another.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer.
