EastEnders has shown Priya Nandra-Hart taking a pregnancy test, seemingly confirming she is expecting, but fans are now less certain she is the pregnant woman in Max Branning's bed during the New Year flashforward.
Priya's pregnancy hints
In tonight's episode, Priya (Sophie Levy) acted strangely, hiding a pharmacy bag in her handbag and vomiting on bride-to-be Cindy Beale's (Michelle Collins) hen do outfit. She then went to the Queen Vic toilets, where she was seen holding a test and looking upset.
Following her affair with Max (Jake Wood), Cindy's fiancé, fans assumed Max would be the father of Priya's baby, though her ex Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) is also a possibility. The New Year flashforward showed Max in bed with a mystery pregnant woman.
Fans suspect a red herring
Viewers now feel the pregnancy reveal is "too obvious" and may be a red herring. One fan said: "We’re all assuming it’s her in his bed because Max could be the dad. But could the affair actually just be a plot device to make us think that? What if it’s actually someone from Max’s past he’s helping, a surprise return? The fact he immediately alerted her when the police were outside makes me think he’s protecting her from something."
Another fan suggested one of Max's iconic exes could return, especially as her brother has been confirmed to come back: "I’ve always thought it was Stacey [Slater] - and now Sean is returning, she might not be far behind?"
Stacey and Tanya possibilities
Stacey (Lacey Turner) has been in Brazil with her brother Sean (Rob Kazinsky) since late last year, leaving just after Max returned to Walford. The two share a long history, including a relationship while Stacey was with Max's son Bradley (Charlie Clements).
Jake Wood said at a press event last year: "Obviously, Tanya is very high, but I think probably Stacey as well. I think we saw that when Max came back a couple of months ago. The connection is still really strong between the pair of them; they really understand each other. I think wherever they are in different parts or wherever they are in their lives, they'd always have that connection. So, if you asked Max, he would probably say Stacey."
Another fan agreed Stacey could be the pregnant woman but also thought Tanya (Jo Joyner) would make sense: "While I don't want another re run of Stacey and Max (sorry but I will always be weirded out by that), I think this would be so good and actually makes sense with Sean coming back. Or Tanya, given her history with Max and the fact that Sean was so in love with her that he buried Max alive."
Tanya and Sean had a brief fling when she first discovered Max's affair with Stacey. Sean helped her with a revenge plan, burying Max alive in a coffin, but Max survived. Sean and Tanya soon broke up, with Sean marrying Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) and Tanya moving on to Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), Max's brother.
