EastEnders viewers think they have worked out the identity of Max’s murder victim following the explosive flash forward
EastEnders fans have worked out why Max gets arrested on his wedding day (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Kieron McCarron)
EastEnders viewers are certain they have worked out who Max Branning kills, and she’s already in Walford.
The BBC One soap certainly pulled out all the stops in the much-anticipated flashforward episode on New Year’s Day 2026, which jumped to events on the same day in 2027.
The instalment centred on Max (Jake Wood) as he prepared for his fifth wedding to a mystery woman. But before he would get to the altar, he was arrested.
The episode saw armed police swarm Albert Square and break into Max’s flat to arrest him for solicitation of murder. He failed to get away after he was turned over by his daughter, Lauren Beale (Jacqueline Jossa).
The identity of the murdered person remained a mystery as Max was taken to the police station for questioning. However, EastEnders fans are convinced Max will plan to kill Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) after a major hint.
EastEnders aired Max Branning arrested set in the future (Image: BBC)
During Wednesday’s trip to the Square (January 21), Max and his nemesis, Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), teamed up to make a secret plan involving the take-down of Jasmine.
The scheme came after Jasmine suspiciously planned to flee Walford after she secretly killed her dad, Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey). She also urged her lover, Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier), to go travelling with her, leaving his dad, Max, furious.
While in The Queen Vic, a confrontation unfolded between Max and Jasmine, as he threatened to tell Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) about her escape plan. In response, Jasmine lied, claiming that Max tried to kiss her, leaving Kat in shock.
Oscar stormed out of the pub as Max protested his innocence to his son and followed him home, where Lauren and Cindy were filled in on the situation.
Jasmine accused Max of trying to kiss her in her latest plot (Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)
Meanwhile, Kat began to suspect that Jasmine might have been lying about the kiss, amongst other things and shared her worries with Jean Slater (Gillian Wright), who is convinced Jasmine killed Anthony.
Later, Jasmine launched a verbal attack on Cindy and threatened to involve the Fords if Cindy continued to fight her. However, in a twist, Cindy arranged a secret meeting with Max, and the pair vowed to find a way to get rid of Jasmine.
“She might be the sequel, but I’m the original,” Cindy declared. “And whatever we come up with, that nasty little problem child will never see it coming.”
Max and Cindy have teamed up to take down Jasmine in EastEnders (Image: BBC)
EastEnders fans are now convinced that Max and Cindy will plan to kill Jasmine, which explains Max’s mysterious arrest in the flash-forward scene on New Year’s Day.
Taking to X, one person wrote: “Max and Cindy teaming up to take down Jasmine – how interesting #EastEnders“, while a second stated: “Maybe Max planned to kill Jasmine in the flash-forward, as she is pushing her luck there. #EastEnders.”
A third asked: “IS IT JASMINE THAT’S GETTING MURDERED? #EastEnders”, while another penned: “Cindy and Max teaming up is a recipe for disaster #EastEnders.”
“Just watched tonight’s #EastEnders! I knew Cindy and Max would work together to bring down Jasmine. This now ties Cindy into the NYD 2027 stuff with Max, too. Also looks like Kat’s been speaking to Jean, and that’s why she’s suddenly turned on Jasmine”, added another.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer
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