EastEnders fans have been left debating a potential scripting blunder after a dramatic paternity revelation in Thursday night's episode. The scene saw Linda Carter finally tell Max Branning that he is the father of her young daughter, Annie.
The Dramatic Truth Bomb
In the episode, which aired on Thursday, December 19, 2025, a tense Linda Carter, played by Kellie Bright, confessed to Max, portrayed by Jake Wood, after he returned to the Peacock Palace. Max, who made a comeback to Albert Square in September, had spent the day focused on repairing his fractured relationships with his children.
After a difficult week where his daughter Lauren was revealed to have stolen charity money, Max was seeking redemption. Unbeknownst to him, Linda was wrestling with a secret she had kept for years. Following an affair in 2021 while she was still married to Mick Carter, Linda became pregnant with Annie, whose true paternity has been known to viewers but concealed from Max.
Viewers Question the Wording
The pivotal moment came when Linda stated, "You've got three kids, Max. Annie's your daughter." This line immediately sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many fans quick to highlight an apparent error in the dialogue.
Long-term viewers know that Max Branning is actually the father of five children. As well as Lauren, Oscar, and the newly revealed Annie, he was also father to Bradley Branning, who died in 2010 after falling from the roof of the Queen Vic, and Abi Branning, who suffered a fatal fall from the same roof in January 2018.
Fan Reaction and Theories
Fans took to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to dissect the line. One viewer questioned, "why is Linda saying max has 3 kids... does he not have 5 now Lauren, Bradley, Abi, Oscar and Annie?" Another directly asked, "What? Was this a deliberate blunder?"
However, not all viewers believed it was a mistake. Some theorised about the intended meaning. One fan suggested, "I think she is meaning three kids on the Square," referencing the fact that only Lauren, Oscar, and Annie currently reside in Walford. Another offered a grammatical interpretation, insisting, "HAVE 3 kids is live kids. Bradley and Abi WERE his kids - but are no more."
This major revelation means that only Max's eldest daughter, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), who has known the truth, and now Max himself, are aware of Annie's true parentage. The secret was originally kept during a turbulent period in Linda and Mick's marriage, as Mick struggled with his mental health.
EastEnders continues to air Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
