EastEnders fans were left furious at the end of yesterday’s episode as they picked up on a huge name change to one beloved character. Viewers watched in shock as Max Branning, played by Jake Wood, made his legendary return to the BBC soap at the end of his daughter Lauren Branning’s wedding to Peter Beale.
The ceremony came as a surprise to Lauren, with Peter sneakily setting up in the Vic, even buying her her dream wedding dress. Although Lauren initially agreed to the marriage, she began to have second thoughts, and attempted to run away before a heart to heart with Stacey Slater changed her mind.
Lauren then headed off to the Vic to celebrate, and everything almost ran smoothly in a soap wedding for once, until it didn’t. As Lauren tossed her bouquet up towards their loved ones, the Square was left stunned when Max Branning walked in and picked it up off the floor, the Mirror reports.
He exclaimed: “Must be my lucky day”.
The episode finished on an epic cliffhanger with residents and fans being left gobsmacked at the scenes.
However, those who stayed around noticed one huge change. After tying the knot with Peter, Lauren’s name was changed from Lauren Branning to Lauren Beale, which some fans were not pleased about.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan said: “Rah what the f**k is this it better be temporary!”
Another chimed in: “I hate that soaps always insist on this. In 2025 it really isn’t that common but soaps always do it!”
A third said: “I’m really not liking this – Lauren’s character is being brought down by Peter. The couple are so unsuited in my honest opinion.”
Meanwhile, a fourth fumed: “Could have least made her a Branning-Beale!”
Lauren was not the only woman to become a Beale last night. Before the wedding, Kathy revealed she had officially changed her name back to Beale from Cotton.
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On tonight’s episode the Square will be left taken aback by Max’s shock arrival, and things are set to get dramatic.
Spoilers for Wednesday night’s episode reveal that Kat tries to warn Max away from Zoe when he spots the pair talking.
Of course, no one in the Square is aware of the pair’s relationship. He’ll also reunite with Stacey Slater, but what will go down and will she leave for Brazil?
