In a dramatic New Year's Day episode, BBC One's EastEnders left viewers reeling with a flashforward to 2027, centring on the chaotic wedding day of perennial rogue Max Branning. The episode masterfully set up a stunning betrayal, refusing to reveal the bride's identity and instead presenting four potential women who could be set to marry him.
The Four Potential Brides Revealed
The episode, which aired on 1st January 2026, followed Max as he prepared to walk down the aisle for a fifth time. However, the ceremony was thrown into chaos when the groom was arrested by a SWAT team. His brother, Jack Branning, who harbours such intense dislike for Max that he refused to attend the wedding, attempted to call the bride.
This triggered a revealing montage showing four different women answering their phones while getting ready. Chelsea Fox was seen steaming a dress, Cindy Beale was opening a dry cleaning bag, and Linda Carter was putting on earrings. All three had previously been hinted as possible contenders.
The fourth option, however, delivered the biggest shock. When Patrick Trueman and Libby Fox went looking for Denise Fox, they found a white dress and sparkly shoes in her home, but Denise was absent. Her phone, ringing on the table, showed Jack was calling. Libby picked it up, telling Patrick, "Look who's calling." This confirmed Denise, who is currently married to Jack, as a potential bride.
A Stunning Betrayal for Jack Branning
If Max were to marry Denise, it would represent the ultimate betrayal of his brother Jack. Fans were quick to speculate online, with one viewer commenting, "I actually reckon Max is marrying Denise." This twist would serve as a form of revenge for Max, as Jack has a history of becoming involved with Max's former partners.
In 2008, Jack began a relationship with Max's then-wife Tanya while they were separated. More recently, Jack had an affair with Stacey Slater, whom actor Jake Wood has described as Max's "true love." This history provides a potent motive for Max's potential actions and explains Jack's visceral refusal to attend the wedding.
Further Scandal on the Wedding Day
In true Max Branning fashion, the potential bride betrayal was not the only scandal of the day. The episode opened with Max waking up in bed next to a mystery woman who was definitively not his fiancée, as he proceeded to call his future wife while the woman remained in his bed.
Fans reacted with typical humour, with one noting, "Hang on, the person in his bed is not the person he’s marrying? Never change Max!" Another added, "So the person he’s marrying isn’t the person he’s been shagging… and NOBODY was surprised." Adding another layer of intrigue, a baby scan was visible on the bedside table, leaving audiences to question whether it belonged to the mystery woman or the bride-to-be.
The episode's clever flashforward structure, setting the scene for 2027, has successfully planted multiple explosive story seeds. With four women in the frame and a brotherly feud set to reach boiling point, EastEnders has guaranteed that the mystery of Max Branning's fifth wedding will have Walford residents and viewers alike talking for a long time to come.
