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EastEnders Sets First Full Flashforward for New Year’s Day 2026, Jumping to 2027 With Max Branning

Producers promise a 30-minute episode packed with clues to a turbulent year for the Brannings.

Overview

  • The one-off BBC One instalment airs on 1 January 2026 and is set on New Year’s Day 2027.
  • Max Branning, played by Jake Wood, is shown in a predicament with major consequences for him and his family.
  • Executive producer Ben Wadey says this is the programme’s first episode-length flashforward.
  • Promotional imagery depicts Max in a suit with a white rose on his lapel stained with blood, serving as a visual teaser.
  • The special builds on the show’s previous non-linear experiments, including a 2023 flashforward, and follows Max’s 2025 return.