A number of characters have left the programme in the last month, with more exits on the way
EastEnders fans are adamant that a forgotten character is returning to show in the coming weeks, who was last see in a ‘beyond wrong story’.
The BBC soap is in need of some new characters following the deaths of Martin Fowler and Reiss Colwell in the Queen Vic explosion during the 40th anniversary week.
Additionally, on-screen sisters Natalie Cassidy and Patsy Palmer, who play Sonia and Bianca Jackson, are both leaving the programme to pursue new career opportunities.
While its uncertain what direction the drama on Albert Square is heading in, a major clue may been dropped in scenes that aired on Thursday (March 6)..
Trying her best to assure Sonia that her new child Julia will love living in Watford, her friend Lauren Branning said that she will ‘have two cousins the same age that live just across the street’.
Unable to hold her tongue and bring up the past, Bianca cheekily replied: “If they don’t sleep together like you and Uncle Derek’s boy Joey, they’ll be all right.”
For those who don’t remember, Lauren previously entered a relationship with her first cousin Joey Branning, with the son of Derek Branning introduced to the soap in 2012.
Despite initially dating Lucy Beale, who he cheated on with Whitney Dean, Joey soon found out that he had feelings for his uncle Max Branning’s daughter.
Lauren was hesitant to Joey’s advances at first, slapping him when he claimed that she was ‘jealous’ of Lucy and Whitney fighting over him. However, when he moved into her family home, the pair began sleeping with each other.
Derek eventually found out the secret, with Lauren and Joey stealing his car and accidentally crashing it into a shop. While they broke things off, the cousins began their relationship again after Derek died of a heart attack on Christmas Day in 2012.
The controversial storyline came to an end when Lucy spiked Lauren’s drink, making Joey break-up with her believing she was an alcoholic and leaving the Square to go live with his mum.
Fans of EastEnders rushed to X, previously known as Twitter, to have their say on Bianca’s savage joke and speculate on the return of a missing Brannning.
@SWAINSCARLAS said: “‘As long as they don’t sleep together unlike you and uncle dereks boy joey’. LMAOO unexpected shot from Bianca #EastEnders.” @KellieBrightLY added: “Lauren’s never going to live this down and she shouldn’t be able to either it was beyond wrong #EastEnders.”
@Burns12L pointed out: “Deffo bringing him back few times this year he’s been mentioned now.” @Marniemae11 wrote: “No fr this was just disgusting and when you watch the old episodes on iplayer, everyone seems to be okay with it apart from Derek, Lucy and Whitney.”
@realseanslater commented: “The odd mention? Yeah whatever, but to have a whole scene about joey branning is a bit weird. So on that basis he better bloody return #EastEnders.” @RJKDuggan posted: “Another Joey Branning mention in EastEnders – I sense a return and recast.”
