The BBC soap kicked off 2026 with a glimpse into the future on the streets of WalfordMax Branning faced a horrible choice on EastEnders(Image: BBC )

EastEnders fans have been left ‘absolutely baffled’ by the programme’s Max Branning flashforward episode after ‘confusing’ twist they won’t get answers to until next year.

It was announced in November that Jake Wood’s character was going to be at the centre of the BBC soap’s first ever flashforward episode. Viewers have been trying to figure out what hot water Max would be in come New Year’s Day 2027.

Heading into the episode Max had been seen going through a torrid time, being cast out by his family in scenes aired on Wednesday (December 31). Max attempted to sleep with Linda Carter just days after he went to bed with Cindy Beale.

The night began with a mysterious gunman hiding in their car, in an early sign that things weren’t going to go well for Max. Undercover police were seen outside of Max’s house waiting for further instructions.

The serial womaniser was soon seen in bed with a mysterious woman with a picture of an ultrasound beside it. Max even received a special message on the radio from Oscar and Lauren for his wedding day.

Receiving a phone call, Max appeared to be talking to his bride, telling her not to get cold feet and that marrying her was ‘the best decision he ever made’.

Max Branning on EastEnders(Image: BBC)

A major twist early on revealed that Max’s brother Jack has a baby called Ethan and he wasn’t picked to be his best man. Taking the place was none other than Ian Beale, in spite of offering him money at the end of 2025 to leave Walford.

With Robbie Williams playing in the background, Max made a drastic escape out of his bedroom window when a police team broke down his door and stormed into his home. Out on the run, Max managed to make his way to Lauren’s as he tried to lay low.

Insisting that he ‘got caught up in something’ and it wasn’t his fault, Max claimed that he was set up and falling in with a ‘dodgy’group. Max then hinted that Lauren was having an affair away from her husband Peter Beale.

Over at the Queen Vic, Patrick Trueman told Oscar that he was a ‘Trueman now’, the youngster had been in a relationship with Jasmine. On Christmas day Jasmine was revealed to be the daughter of Zoe Slater and Anthony Trueman, who later died in mysterious circumstances.

Back in Lauren’s house, Max was on the run yet again when his eldest daughter gave him up to the police. Eventually caught, police arrested Max on a charge of solicitation to murder, a charge given for hiring a hitman.

Once Max was taken away by the police, Oscar told Jack that he had to help him as Jimmy or Ethan ‘wouldn’t be alive’ without him. During this scene, a mysterious man in a green jacket was seen in the background getting involved in the conversation.

The mysterious gunman from the beginning of the episode later pointed a gun at Lauren when she tried to meet with the mysterious person she was texting on the phone. Back at the Vic, Nicola Mitchell, who is pregnant in 2026, was sitting with crutches by her side beside George Knight.

With Max still in jail, Jack gave the bride a call. However, Chelsea Fox, Linda, Cindy and even Denise Fox were all seen wearing white as they each received a call. The latter is currently married to Jack after they got back together during the soap’s 40th anniversary week last year.

Once Max was let go by the police, he sped off with Jack in the passenger seat back to the Square as he tried his best to have a successful fifth wedding day. However, upon arrival Max was sent a video from the gunman asking him to choose whether to kill Lauren or Oscar.

With fans trying to work out what happened, viewers raced to X, previously known as Twitter, to have their say on an episode that EastEnders may struggle to top in terms of questions raised across the next 12 months.

@chantelle_isaac said: “I would have rather that episode not existed. More questions than answers, and too messy #eastenders.” @lewisa95 added: “So many questions after that ep #EastEnders.”

@newoxof wrote: “What the hell was the point in that flashforward when they literally didnt show anything? made christmas look good. #EastEnders.” @sho_shay posted: “I couldn’t begin to tell you how confused I am #EastEnders.”

@Chloex___x commented: “Anyone else absolutely baffled by that whole episode?? What on earth is going on? #EastEnders.” @RyanSHanna95 stated: “Yeah I’m not waiting a whole year, hurry up and run us our answers #EastEnders.”