WHO IS MAX MARRYING? 2027 Wedding Poll! | EastEnders

EastEnders has never been short on jaw-dropping twists, but the explosive flashforward episode centred on Max Branning has taken mystery storytelling to a whole new level. Penned by legendary writer Simon Ashdown, the episode feels less like a single chapter and more like a crime scene packed with clues, red herrings, and unanswered questions. Every glance, every line of dialogue, every background detail seems deliberately placed to torment fans. By the end, it’s impossible not to feel overwhelmed, obsessed, and desperate for answers—because 2027 is shaping up to be one of the darkest, most dramatic years Walford has ever seen.

At the heart of it all is the bombshell revelation that Max Branning is about to marry—for the fifth time. Yes, fifth. Max treats marriage like an extreme sport, and yet this time, EastEnders refuses to show us the bride. Instead, viewers are teased with a montage of possibilities as Jack Branning makes a phone call to the mystery woman. The camera lingers on Chelsea Fox, Linda Carter, Cindy Beale, and Denise Fox, each framed just long enough to send fans spiralling. Any one of them could be walking down the aisle. And then there’s the bigger question: could this wedding involve a shocking return? Longtime loves like Tanya Cross or Stacey Slater still loom large over Max’s story. Or is the bride someone completely new—an unseen character waiting to explode into the Square and change everything?

As if that mystery weren’t enough, the episode introduces another woman in Max’s life: a pregnant one. She’s seen sleeping in Max’s bed, showering in his flat, with an ultrasound scan casually placed on the bedside table. Crucially, the episode makes it clear she is not the bride, as Max later speaks to his future wife on the phone from the same apartment. So who is this woman? A secret lover carrying Max’s child? A temporary houseguest? Or someone whose presence will rewrite the Branning family tree yet again? Max appears fully clothed and sober when he wakes, hinting that their relationship might not be romantic—but this is Max Branning, a man defined by chaos and scandal. Redemption or deception? The line has never been thinner.

Then comes the moment that truly shocks: police swarm Albert Square, heavily armed, and storm Max’s flat. He is arrested for soliciting murder. The accusation alone is staggering, but the betrayal that follows cuts even deeper. Max’s own daughter, Lauren Branning, turns him in. Watching her hand her father over to the police without hesitation is chilling. Whatever Max is accused of plotting must be unforgivable. Yet frustratingly, we’re never told who the intended victim was. Max insists he’s innocent, while DI Reiss (or Di Ren, as fans debate) remains deliberately vague. Is Max finally guilty of crossing an irreversible line—or is he being set up once again?

Adding to the unease is a mystery man spotted outside Max’s flat. Max nods to him from the window in a moment of clear recognition. Later, the same man appears silently in the background during a Beale family discussion after Max’s arrest. The familiarity of that nod is unsettling. Who is he? A long-lost son? A hired hitman? A fixer? His presence feels deliberate and dangerous, and it’s impossible to believe he’s insignificant.

If Max truly is innocent, then the question becomes: who has framed him? Walford is overflowing with people who have reason to hate Max Branning. His list of enemies is longer than his list of wives. This wouldn’t be the first time he’s been wrongly accused—fans will never forget the Lucy Beale murder cover-up—but this feels far more personal. Whoever is behind this wants Max destroyed, possibly forever. And if it’s revenge, it’s cold, calculated, and terrifying.

Lauren Branning, meanwhile, is hiding secrets of her own. Beyond betraying her father, she’s seen exchanging cryptic messages with someone urging her to slip away. At first glance, it looks like an affair—but the truth could be far darker. Is she betraying Peter Beale? Or is she entangled in something criminal? This version of Lauren is icy, ruthless, and unrecognisable. Her actions suggest she’s playing a long game, and Max might just be collateral damage.

Peter Beale’s role only deepens the intrigue. While the rest of the Beales prepare for the wedding, Peter is conspicuously absent. It’s clear he hasn’t forgiven Max for something that happened in 2026. When Peter finally returns—just after Lauren has handed Max over—the look shared between husband and wife is chilling. It’s a silent exchange loaded with meaning. Are they working together? Plotting something sinister? Peter’s hatred for Max is understandable, but the implication that he and Lauren may be united against him raises the stakes dramatically.

Elsewhere, a surprisingly tender scene offers a brief emotional reprieve. Oscar Branning is helped with his tie by Patrick Trueman, who affectionately refers to Oscar as a “Trueman.” The implication is clear: Oscar is romantically involved with someone from the Trueman family. But who? Jasmine? Her twin? Patrick mentoring Oscar feels symbolic, suggesting new family bonds forming amid the chaos—a rare glimmer of warmth in an otherwise grim episode.

Another puzzling addition is baby Ethan, currently staying at Jack Branning’s house. Jack is visibly stressed, struggling to cope, and notably, his other children are absent. Is Ethan Jack’s son? Or perhaps his grandson? Could this baby be connected to one of Walford’s many hidden pregnancies? The Branning family tree is already tangled, and Ethan’s arrival only complicates it further.

We also learn that Max once saved the lives of his grandson Jimmy Beale and baby Ethan—a revelation that temporarily softens Jack toward his older brother. No details are given, but the reminder is enough to make Jack help Max despite their strained relationship. Still, their bond remains fractured, hinting at another betrayal or wrongdoing by Max in 2026 that hasn’t yet been revealed. Some things never change—Jack and Max remain a toxic mix.

Denise Fox’s sudden disappearance raises yet more questions. Jack reveals she walked out the night before, and by the episode’s end, her phone rings ominously. Have they split again? Could Denise herself be the mystery bride? If she were to marry Max, the fallout would be catastrophic. Family gatherings would become battlefields.

In a gasp-worthy moment, Libby Fox reappears in Walford. Her return is unexpected and emotional. Is she back for good? Or has she come because Max is marrying someone close to her—perhaps her sister Chelsea, or even her mother Denise? Libby’s presence suggests major family drama on the horizon.

Meanwhile, Nicola Mitchell and George Knight appear closer than ever, sharing drinks at the Queen Vic. In the present timeline, they’re expecting a baby, confirming they’ve made a real go of their relationship. They radiate power-couple energy—but cracks soon appear. Nicola’s feud with Chelsea Fox is so intense she’d “rather eat glass” than speak to her. Iconic, yes—but what caused such deep resentment? Adding to the mystery, Nicola’s foot is in a cast. Did she injure herself in a fight? With Nicola, violence is never off the table.

The Queen Vic itself feels eerily empty. Tracy is left tidying up alone, while Ian Beale remarks that the landlords have vanished, leaving her in charge. A boarded-up, smashed window hints at recent violence. A brawl at the Vic is nothing new—but who was involved this time, and why?

Perhaps the strangest detail of all is Ian Beale serving as Max’s best man. Their history is brutal: Max caused the death of Ian’s son Steven, slept with Lucy, and had an affair with Cindy. Ian standing beside Max on his wedding day is almost unbelievable. Redemption? Manipulation? Or something far darker?

The episode’s most terrifying thread involves a leather-gloved gunman stalking Max’s family. Arriving in a white van, this figure texts Max relentlessly before breaking into Lauren’s home and holding both Lauren and Oscar at gunpoint. The threat is immediate and horrifying. Someone hates Max enough to terrorise his children—and they’re not bluffing.

All of this builds to the ultimate, unresolved question: when forced to choose, who will Max Branning save—Lauren or Oscar? Having already lost Bradley and Abby in tragic circumstances, Max facing another impossible decision feels cruel beyond measure. If he loses yet another child, it could destroy him completely.

EastEnders has planted 21 burning questions in a single episode, and not one of them feels accidental. The mystery of Max’s wedding is just the beginning. By the time 2027 arrives, Walford may never be the same again—and neither will Max Branning.