In a dramatic departure from its usual format, the BBC's flagship soap EastEnders is set to broadcast a special 'flash-forward' episode on New Year's Day 2027. The episode will reveal long-standing character Max Branning preparing to walk down the aisle for a fifth time.
A Bold Leap Forward in Soap Storytelling
The unique 30-minute instalment, scheduled for BBC1 on 1st January 2027, will jump forward exactly one year from the present day to focus on Max's wedding. Actor Jake Wood, who has played the charismatic but troubled Branning since 2006, has hailed the episode as a groundbreaking moment for the show.
"It's brave, it's big, it's bold. It's a real privilege to be a part of it," said Wood, 53. He described a stark contrast between Max's state on New Year's Eve 2026 and his situation a year later. "We see a man who's maybe at the lowest we've ever seen him, and then we flash forward and things are maybe not quite as bad."
Chaos and Christenings for the Branning Clan
The episode promises high drama, with multiple storylines converging around Max. Executive producer Ben Wadey teased the plot, stating, "For Max, life is like one big game of Kiss, Marry, Kill. This idea set something running for us that we got really excited about. There is a whole heap of chaos."
The new year will also bring major events for other members of the family. Actress Jacqueline Jossa, who plays Max's daughter Lauren Branning, hinted at a turbulent christening for her on-screen son, Jimmy. "You can imagine how it goes, but it's very, very interesting. We see people meet for maybe the first time. It's very dramatic, but such good television," said the 33-year-old.
A History of Flash-Forwards and Returns
This is not the first time EastEnders has employed this narrative device; a flash-forward scene was used in February 2023 to tease that year's Christmas storyline. The special episode also marks a significant chapter for Max Branning, a character who left Walford in 2021 after his affair with Linda Carter collapsed, only to make a dramatic return earlier this year.
As Albert Square prepares to fast-forward into the future, fans are left to speculate about the identity of bride number five and what other shocks the bold episode will deliver.
