EastEnders revealed a preview of the flash forward episode that saw Max Branning in bed with a mystery pregnant woman, and fans think they know who it is on the BBC soap
19:00, 01 Jan 2026Updated 19:16, 01 Jan 2026
EastEnders revealed a preview of the flash forward episode that saw Max Branning in bed with a mystery pregnant woman(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)
The pregnant woman in Max Branning’s bed has got EastEnders fans talking, amid a flash forward episode.
In the teaser from New Year’s Day’s episode, Max is seen waking up in the year 2027. As he rolls over, there’s a woman also waking up, but her identity is covered.
She has a baby bump though which she is caressing, and the camera then pans to a baby scan as well as pregnancy supplements. It’s not clear who the woman. The clip does appear to hint that Max is expecting a child with a mystery partner though, with him smiling at her.
Also in the clip Max is seen with a suit hanging up, teasing a wedding. There’s no more revealed about the scene, but fans think they have worked out who the character in the bed is.
READ MORE: EastEnders 2026: Every hint at explosive year from Max Branning wedding to major deathREAD MORE: BBC EastEnders reveals update on Max Branning’s dark future ahead of flashforward
The pregnant woman in Max Branning’s bed has got EastEnders fans talking(Image: BBC)
After a recent random scene this week on the BBC soap, fans think it was a major hint at what was ahead. The flash forward episode pans to New Year’s Day 2027, with a wedding teased.
With so much more to be explained, it hasn’t stopped fans thinking Chelsea Fox is the pregnant character in Max’s bed. Just days ago she suggested she found him attractive, so fans think this was the clue that she would be the woman.
Sharing their theories on social media in reply to the preview, fans noticed the woman appeared to sigh. One fan said: “Sounds like Chelsea that does.”
Another view agreed: “Sounds like Chelsea,” as a third said: “Honestly it kinda sounds like Chelsea sighing.” A further comment read: “That’s Chelsea sighing.”
It’s not clear who the woman is and how they are linked to Max(Image: BBC)
The comments kept on coming too with another reading: “Gotta be Chelsea, she’s not been in a big story line for a while.” One fan said: “Priya or Chelsea definitely involved!”
Another said: “That sounded like Chelsea,” as a fan admitted: “Oh, that sounds like Chelsea!” A final comment said: “That’s got to be Chelsea in bed with Max Branning in 2027.”
Other names thrown into the mix included Linda Carter, Cindy Beale and Stacey Slater. Other fans questioned if it could be Nicola Mitchell or Priya Nandra-Hart. Viewers will have to tune in on New Year’s Day to see the entire episode unfold.
With it will be a load more questions, as we see hints of the next year, leading us into New Year’s Day 2027. Teasing what else is ahead, Executive Producer Ben Wadey told the Mirror that characters taking centre-stage include Harry Mitchell, Joel Marshall and Vicki Fowler.
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