EastEnders fans are convinced they have uncovered a tragic plot twist set to rock Albert Square, after two key characters were mysteriously absent from a pivotal flashforward scene.
Ominous Absences Spark Fan Theories
The speculation began during the New Year's Day episode, which jumped forward to a future event. Notably missing from the scenes were Penny Branning and Louie Beale, despite both being central members of the sprawling Branning family.
Instead, the episode focused on a depressed Jack Branning struggling to care for a newborn baby named Ethan. Meanwhile, Lauren Branning's other son, Jimmy Beale, was mentioned several times, deepening the mystery surrounding Louie's whereabouts.
The plot thickened with a telling comment from Oscar Branning. Pleading for help after his father Max's arrest, Oscar revealed that Max had "saved Jimmy and Ethan's lives." This crucial line sent fans into a frenzy, suggesting a future life-threatening event from which the two youngest boys are rescued.
Is Penny Branning Ethan's Mother?
One prominent theory now circulating among the Walford faithful suggests that the missing Penny could be baby Ethan's mother. Fans quickly connected dots from a New Year's Eve episode where Penny grew close to Vinny Panesar.
"Ethan I bet is Penny's baby," one viewer speculated on social media platform X. Another asked pointedly: "Is the new baby Penny’s though?? Is she dead??"
If this theory holds, it would provide a heartbreaking explanation for Jack's sorrow and his difficulty with the infant. Penny's potential death during or after childbirth would leave Jack to raise his grandchild, mirroring the grief-stricken figure seen in the flashforward.
Penny, played by Kitty Castledine, recently cemented her status as a fan favourite with a brilliantly cutting line about Cindy Beale, making the prospect of her exit even more shocking for viewers.
A Deadly Choice for Max Branning?
An alternative, and even darker, theory posits that the event which forces Max to save Jimmy and Ethan may also claim the lives of Penny and Louie. Fans wonder if Max will be forced to make an impossible choice, similar to a later scene where a gunman orders him to pick between family members.
In this scenario, saving the two youngest children could indirectly lead to the deaths of the older two. Following Oscar's comment, multiple fans took to social media with the same fearful question: "Is Louie dead?"
The complete lack of reference to Louie, while his brother Jimmy was named, has been viewed as a particularly ominous sign by the soap's dedicated audience.
A Pregnant Mystery for 2027
Adding another layer to the unfolding drama, the flashforward also teased events for New Year's Day 2027. Max was shown waking up next to an unidentified, pregnant woman, with a baby scan visible in the room.
After a recent throwaway comment on the show, many fans are now convinced the woman is Chelsea Fox. Earlier in the week, Chelsea hinted at finding Max attractive, which viewers believe was a deliberate clue planted by the writers.
Analysing a preview clip, one fan noted, "Sounds like Chelsea that does," with many others agreeing the sigh heard from the mystery woman matched Chelsea's voice. "Gotta be Chelsea, she’s not been in a big story line for a while," another commented, suggesting a major plot is on the horizon for the character.
With Max's wedding also teased for 2027, the Branning family saga appears set to dominate Walford for the year ahead, potentially with devastating consequences for some of its most beloved members.
