Fans of EastEnders think someone could return to the show in a wedding twist with Max Branning.

Max is set to marry a mystery bride on New Year’s Day 2027, as teased in a recent flashforward episode. What we also know is that ahead of this big episode, Max falls out with his brother Jack Branning, while Max’s niece Penny Branning recently confirmed her pregnancy.

This baby plot is significant as it could confirm baby Ethan, the child being cared for by Jack in 2027, is Penny’s child. Fans now think this plot will spark a return, and it could reveal the identity of Max’s bridge.

The new theory is that Penny’s mother and Jack’s ex Selina will head back to the show after years away. They think in a twist, Max will get with Selina and it will be their wedding, leading to his drama with sibling Jack.

So does Jack fall out with Max over a new romance with Selina, his ex? Fans are certainly predicting the new twist, believing it’s Selina that Max will marry amid his arrest and a gunman targeting the Brannings, all set to be shown in January next year.

Taking to social media, one fan shared: “Max will be marrying Selina Branning (Penny’s Mum). This is why Jack isn’t happy with Max as he’s marrying his ex-wife / Penny’s mum. They’ll either start a relationship when she returns or they may have seen each other briefly when Max was not on the square (similar to his relationship with Zoe).

“The Cindy, Chelsea and Linda scene is a misdirect, but I believe he will sleep with all these women at some point during the year. Baby Ethan is Penny and Vinny’s daughter.

“This is also why Selina will return to the square as she’ll find out her daughter is pregnant.” Another fan backed this theory, also believing that the other potential brides are red herrings, and that Selina is the real bride.

The fan said: “If Penny is pregnant, do you think her mother Selina might appear on the Square at some point? Could she be a possible love interest for Max, seeing as how the Branning men have a tendency to share lovers at different times in their lives (Stacey, Rainey, Tanya, etc.).”