EastEnders fans spot major clue to ‘reveal’ mysterious man from flash-forward episode
EastEnders’ New Year’s Day flash-forward episode left us with more questions than answers.
The special instalment, which gave us a glimpse of the action unfolding over the next year, saw Max Branning (Jake Wood) preparing to walk down the aisle for the fifth time.
Like most Albert Square weddings, it didn’t go without a hitch. Police raided his flat – where a mystery, pregnant woman was showering – and later arrested him for soliciting a murder.
We’re none the wiser as to who his bride is, or the fate of children Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier), who were held at gunpoint in the closing scene.
Viewers were also introduced to a new resident, with actor Stephen-Aaron Sipple being credited simply as ‘Man’ during the closing titles. He was first seen giving Max a friendly nod while walking through the Square, with the love rat waving back.
Later, as Max was carted off into a police car, the man stood alongside Oscar and Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) to ask what had happened.
While we could have a long time to wait for an official announcement to be made, BBC iPlayer’s audio description feature may provide the answers. The narration provides information about movements, scene changes and body language to blind or visually impaired viewers.
During the man’s first scene, the voiceover reads: “While he’s [Max] is on the phone, he checks a couple of wedding rings in a box and peers out at the Square, giving Mark a friendly wave as he walks past.”
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Is ‘Man’ actually ‘Mark’?
As long-term viewers will know, there have been a multitude of characters called Mark over the years, the most notable being Mark Fowler, who passed away off-screen in 2004.
However, in 2016, we were introduced to his nephew Mark Fowler Jr, who is the son of Michelle Fowler and Grant Mitchell.
A fan on X immediately picked up on the name drop, writing: “The audio description has identified the man Max waved at as ‘Mark’ – the same mystery man who was part of that Lauren, Oscar, Peter, Jack conversation. Is this Mark Fowler Jr? Is this who Lauren is having an affair with?”
During his 13 appearances he was portrayed by future Emmerdale star Ned Porteous, meaning that the character might have been recast, with Sipple stepping into Mark Jr’s shoes.
It’s certainly plausible, given his older sister Vicki (Alice Haig) returned last year.