Fans of the BBC soap think they know who the mystery gunman targeting Lauren and Oscar in the New Year’s flashforward episode is after Max’s revenge storyline comes to an end
20:00, 03 Mar 2026Updated 20:02, 03 Mar 2026
EastEnders fans rumble mystery gunman’s identity as Max’s revenge plot wraps up(Image: BBC)
After Max Branning’s revenge plans were completed, fans of EastEnders think they know who will kidnap his children on New Year’s Day 2027. In the flashforward episode at the start of the year, scenes showed Lauren and Oscar Branning being taken hostage by a mysterious gunman who then told their father to pick one to save.
On Tuesday’s episode (3 March), Max (Jake Wood) did a little kidnapping of his own. In an attempt to prove his dedication to Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Max stuffed Tim Walton (Tom Ratcliffe) into the boot of his car and threatened his life. He warned Tim that if he ever went near the Carter family, particularly Johnny (Charlie Suff) whom Tim had blackmailed into a sexual relationship, he would not live long.
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Max took Tim hostage(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Max then drove off, leaving a beaten Tim on the side of the road. However, fans are not convinced this is the last we will see of the evil investor and instead wondered if he was the mysterious gunman who would come after Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier).
“No way is Tim going to just disappear,” one fan wrote. Another added: “Yeah Tim’s too ruthless to be scared off by Max. I wonder if he’s got anything to do with Lauren and Oscar’s kidnapping at NYE? First he gets kidnapped by Max and then they get kidnapped??”
A third said: “We could add Tim to the list of ‘gunmen’ suspects in the Flashforward.” Meanwhile, a fourth pointed out that even if Tim was eventually killed by Max, he may have something to do with what happens to Lauren and Oscar: “If Max does kill Tim, it would explain why the police were hunting him down, and why Lauren and Oscar were kidnapped in the New Year’s flashback. My guess is that Tim is some drug lord or something.”
Lauren and her brother will be taken hostage by a gunman in 2027(Image: BBC)
Last week, Tim proved himself to be a villain by first tricking Callum Highway (Tony Clay) into breaking into his home and then using the footage to blackmail Johnny into sleeping with him. The show has been exploring the aftermath of this and its impact on Johnny and his family.
Tuesday’s episode saw both Johnny and Callum start to blame Linda for what happened. Linda admitted she knew that Tim was planning to test Callum in some way, but insisted she did not know that he was also planning to hurt Johnny as well. Though she could have told Johnny and Callum that Tim was up to something, she chose not to, as she felt Callum would hurt her son.
Both Callum and Johnny were deeply hurt by this and yelled at Linda for her behaviour. However, some fans felt the two men went too far and should not have treated Linda that way.
Johnny and Callum are dealing with the aftermath of what happened with Tim
One wrote online: “Linda should not of told Max either but that by no means paints her like the villain as the writers implicate her as. If Linda relapses now it’s all on Johnny and I hope he feels guilty as sin.”
Another added: “Johnny wants to blame everyone but Tim because he needs his money. Let Linda be!” A third said: “I hope this doesn’t lead to another relapse for Linda. She’s worked so hard to stay sober and all the mentions of her drinking last night makes me worried she may fall off the wagon again at some point. Johnny is taking this too far.”
But other fans felt Johnny and Callum were right to blame Linda, especially after she told Johnny that what happened to him was not sexual assault, especially as she had also been assaulted in prior episodes. “Sadly I think people forget how self centered Linda is,” a fan said. “Her reaction was disgusting but not against her character to be blind to other’s suffering.”
“Yikes Linda that’s mad that you don’t think your son was sa’d very disappointing seeing as tho it happened to you as well,” a second said. Another wrote: “Blackmailing someone to sleep with you is not consent… LINDA CARTER of all people to dismiss this??? What on earth?”
If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
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