EastEnders spoilers follow.
Believe it or not, it’s been six months since EastEnders aired the groundbreaking New Year's Day flashforward episode, revolving around a life-changing day for returning character Max Branning. Since then, viewers have been watching closely for clues about the various mysteries that were set up in the episode, with wild theories flying around about what is to come.
As we reach the halfway mark, we’re pausing to take stock. Here’s what we now know about the flashforward, as well as what we’re yet to find out:
What we know
1. The identity of the mystery man
The very first mystery of the flashforward was revealed way back in January, when it was announced that the unknown man lurking around the Square during Max’s arrest was none other than Mark Fowler Jr. The role was recast, with Stephen Aaron-Sipple taking over from now Emmerdale star Ned Porteous.
Mark returned to the Square in dramatic fashion in the first few weeks of the year and reconnected with both the Fowler and Mitchell sides of his family. So far he’s reunited with his dad Grant on his brief return to Walford, rumbled his half-sister Vicki’s affair with Zack, and got involved selling dodgy cars with Lauren to pay off his debt to a dangerous gang.
Quite how Mark fits into the events of the flashforward is yet to be unveiled, but he has certainly made a big impression in his almost six months back in the soap.
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2. Who Max is marrying
While Max was romantically linked with his former flame Linda in the first months of the year, it was Cindy who he couldn’t stay away from after their surprise passionate encounter on Christmas Day. The pair were initially at odds after discovering each other’s identity, but after a continued flirtation, they eventually decided to give their relationship a proper go.
It seemed like a match made in heaven, and after only a few weeks of dating, Max popped the question. However, when Cindy initially turned him down, he reverted to old habits and cheated on her with Priya.
Max and Cindy are now engaged, and though a lot can happen in half a year in soapland, we’d be surprised if Max was marrying someone else on New Year’s Day – though Linda and Chelsea were also revealed as potential brides in the flashforward. But will Cindy uncover her fiancé’s affair?
3. Why Jack is distraught
In the flashforward, Jack is seen looking heartbroken after a serious row with Denise, and viewers were left wondering whether their marriage could be over – and whether Denise may even be marrying Jack’s brother Max. But it’s since been revealed why things are so tough for the couple, with Denise recently diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a form of blood cancer.
On-screen, Denise is currently undergoing intense chemotherapy while isolated in hospital to treat her aggressive illness, and her loved ones are rallying around her from a distance. But what exactly are Denise and Jack arguing about on New Year’s Day, and why is Jack so heartbroken?
4. Why Libby is back
Viewers were surprised by the return of Libby Fox in the flashforward, as she arrived home with Patrick to look for Denise – and answered her mum’s phone when it rang. Belinda Owusu reprised her role in the present day in the last couple of weeks, as Libby rushed back to Walford when she was told about her mum’s cancer diagnosis.
Libby has been closely involved with Chelsea’s story, helping her half-sister as she struggles about whether to let Gray’s nan Sheila into Jordan’s life. We don’t yet know whether or not Libby will be around for the remainder of the year, but we know she’ll be at the centre of the action when New Year arrives.
5. Who baby Ethan's parents are
It was also a surprise to see Jack looking after a baby called Ethan in the flashforward, with Lauren reminding him of his responsibility. While it isn’t yet known officially, we strongly suspect that Ethan is Penny’s baby, as she is currently months into her pregnancy and the timing would be about right.
Penny’s boyfriend Vinny believes he is the baby’s dad, but months ago Penny realised that Harry could also be the father, in a huge story that will undoubtedly come to a climax later in the year. But aside from the baby bombshell, why is Jack left looking after the baby – will something happen to Penny before 2027?
What we don't know
1. Who is pregnant
On Max’s New Year wedding day, he wakes up next to a woman other than his bride, who also happens to be heavily pregnant. We don’t yet know who this is, but we might soon find out, as the mystery woman would need to already be pregnant, or to at least fall pregnant very soon. There is a lot of speculation about whether it could be Priya, as she and Max are currently sleeping together in secret, but could there be another twist in store?
2. What Lauren is hiding
In the flashforward, Lauren is seen acting very shifty, getting secret texts and sneaking out to meet someone behind Peter’s back. What’s more, during a heated conversation between Lauren and her dad, it seemed that Max was onto whatever she was hiding. Present day Lauren has been growing closer to Mark, and the pair got dangerously close to kissing at Ross and Vicki’s wedding recently.
There is clearly an attraction between them, though Lauren has desperately tried to keep her distance. As this slowburn story continues, could an affair begin, and could this be Lauren’s dark secret?
3. Why Max is arrested
One of the most dramatic moments of the flashforward episode was when Max was surrounded by police and arrested for solicitation to murder. He denied the charge at the station, and was later released with no questions asked, for a reason that we don’t yet know. What Max gets himself involved in is yet to play out on screen, but it’s likely to feature heavily in the second half of the year – did he arrange to have someone killed?
4. The identity of the kidnapper
The cliffhanger of the flashforward is the reveal that Max’s kids Oscar and Lauren have been kidnapped by a black-gloved kidnapper, who forces Max to decide which of his offspring will be spared. The anonymous assailant, who arrives in the Square in a van carrying a gun, breaks into No.25 and captures the siblings. Is the kidnapper someone we’ve already met who Max has wronged, or a new character who Max is yet to cross paths with?
5. Who Oscar is dating
Away from the action, Oscar shares a sweet moment with Patrick, who remarks that he is dating a Trueman now. At this point, Oscar was in an on-off relationship with Jasmine, who is technically a Trueman – though since then, Oscar had a secret affair with Jasmine’s twin brother Josh!
When the shocking betrayal was exposed, these relationships imploded, and Oscar is currently dating neither sibling. But will one of these relationships reignite before the end of the year?
6. Why Ian is Max's best man
It was a big surprise to find out that Ian had stepped up to be Max’s best man in the flashforward, despite something big happening between the Beales and the Brannings earlier in the year. Six months away from New Year, this is yet to be explained.
In a speech by Oscar at Cindy and Max’s engagement party this week, he jokingly gave odds of 20/1 for Ian being his dad’s best man, and when Ian suggested it was more like 20,000/1, Oscar admitted, "You’re probably right. He hates you." So what on earth changes between now and 2027? However, we do know that while Ian is currently facing prison time for Jordan’s accident, he will definitely be a free man come New Year…
7. Why Nicola is injured
One final flashforward mystery surrounds an injury picked up by Nicola, who is sporting crutches and a brace on her leg in the episode. We’re no closer to finding out what happens to her, or why she seems to be at war with Chelsea. Nicola’s current feud is with Suki and Eve, in dramatic scenes that played out last month – but is Chelsea her new target, and why does she get on the wrong side of her?
EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
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