EASTENDERS flashed forward an entire year tonight and revealed what 2027 will look like for the Branning family – and it’s not great.

There was a police manhunt, an abandoned wedding and a Sophie’s Choice style ending with Max forced to pick between which of his elder children should die.

And these are all the questions we’re going to need answers to over the next year…

Who is The Bride?

A New Year’s Day wedding in soapland… groundbreaking.

One where the groom gets arrested for murder having woken up next to his heavily pregnant lover – but who’s the lucky lady that might get Max down the aisle?

The show gave us four potential options with Denise, Chelsea, Linda and… Cindy Beale. I know.

Frankly unless Uma Thurman turns up in her yellow pantsuit the endless mentions of ‘The Bride’ just won’t be worth it.

Who is Max’s pregnant lover?

For someone so heavily pregnant she’s probably actively in labour by the end of the episode, the woman has stamina.

It’s not every nine-months pregnant lady who can have a romp with her lover on his wedding day.

Obviously the show didn’t bother to give us any hints of any answers but someone will get pregnant around February time, so set your clocks.

Who did Max try to kill?

One of the other – and not at all enraging – unanswered questions from this half-hour episode of soap was who did Max try to have killed.

Obviously it failed, given he wasn’t arrested for actual murder, so really the options are wide open.

Perhaps Ronnie and Roxy are back and Max decided to finish what that wedding dress and pool combination couldn’t?

Who is setting Max up?

He went to the station – for all of five minutes – and protested his innocence so perhaps he is being set up.

Quite why the police launched a New Year’s Day hunt with about 42 officers without even enough evidence to hold him overnight, I don’t know.

But if Max has been set up – and not very well frankly – who could have done it? Ian maybe? The new friendship being all an act? Cindy? Jack?

How did no-one notice the very obvious undercover police officers watching Max’s house?

Have you never stood staring at someone house with the nonchalance of an ADHD whippet while trying desperately to appear casual? No? Then you can rule out a job with Walford’s finest.

Why not pull out a paper and do the crossword on a freezing January morning? Just make sure you lean onto a post box and you’ll look perfectly normal.

Of all the things that are unrealistic in soap this one takes the biscuit.

Who is Lauren having an affair with?

I suppose we can rule out most of the other Brannings but in soap who knows.

You can’t blame her for cheating on the world’s dullest man but she did marry him so that’s really on her.

There’s a distinct lack of potential on the Square currently so perhaps Lauren’s new man is the new mystery man spotted with the other Brannings.

Who is the mystery man with the Brannings?

There’s always someone getting in the way in soap scenes, usually an extra with a desperate need for screen time hoping to make their mark.

But the silent man stood slightly off-kilter with the Brannings and Ian has to be someone of note.

Even Ian Beale wouldn’t carry on having a tense conversation with a rubbernecking nosey-parker stood listening in.

Has the Vic got another new owner?

Ian shrieking ‘where are THEY?’ and ‘we paid THEM a fortune to run this for us’ is very suspicious.

Perhaps it means the Slaters have lost the Vic again?

We live in hope…

Who is baby Ethan?

Just dropping a baby into the mix in Jack’s living room – front door wide open so let’s hope hypothermia hasn’t kicked in.

No-one seemed particularly bothered by the tiny child in a cot in the living room so he’s probably family.

And the state of Jack suggests he’s probably not thrilled about the kid so maybe Amy decided to join the family baby business and drop a sprog before she’s 18?

Or perhaps Ricky has found another neighbour to get pregnant?

Or has Jack strayed again?

Who is Oscar in a relationship with?

Patrick trilling that he’s with a Trueman seems to be more than an obvious hint that Oscar’s flirtation with Jasmine is in the past.

Could he have moved on with her own twin brother?

Or is that just a red herring?

Why is Libby back?

It’s been literal years since viewers have seen Denise Fox’s youngest daughter Libby – but finally she has returned.

After becoming one of the few characters from Walford to retain her sanity and flee to Oxford University without even a hint of murdering someone, Libby has always been an enigma in the soap.

But now she’s back – and the main question is why? And if she sticking around?

What is Cindy up to?

She wants Max dead for not only killing her son Steven – but also everything he did to Lucy.

But for a mystery-packed episode, surely the motive can’t be that obvious?

Max played God with her children so Cindy will do the same to him and force him to pick which is to die.

If that is what’s happening then it will be a welcome return to the Cindy we all miss. Snarky comments are one thing, but the Cindy we need is a cold-blooded killer.

Who is the gunman/woman?

Frankly we can rule out anyone with a brain.

The Square’s packed with police and rubberneckers and the shooter is wandering around in a thick wool coat, leather gloves and a gun in their hand. Subtle.

And those gloves have not been broken in so good luck pulling the trigger is all I can say.

Whoever it is needs desperate help with their planning skills.

Who will die? Oscar or Lauren?

Killing off either would be an obvious travesty given the two characters are two of the best in the Square at the moment but if you threaten to kill someone a year in advance – then someone needs to die.

But would you kill off Lauren who is quickly following in her dad’s adulterous footsteps?

Or Oscar who is frankly the breath of fresh air the show desperately needs?

Of all the characters who should be killed off, why these two?

Despite all the questions posed by the episode – and there are many with precious few answers – there is one that is left desperately clinging on: Who cares?