EastEnders DNA bombshell as Walford favourite discovers character is her sister

08 January 2024 , 20:06

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EastEnders DNA bombshell as Walford favourite discovers character is her sister

EastEnders aired some big news for one character on the BBC soap on Monday, as they discovered they were secretly related to another Walford resident.

Lauren Branning made her big return to Walford in the latest episode, a week on from her comeback on the show alongside son Louie Beale and her cousin Penny Branning. Jacqueline Jossa reprised her role after some time away, only for Lauren to get arrested.

Penny had hidden some drugs in Lauren's bag as they made the decision to fly home to the UK from Paris, France. Penny was hiding the fact she was doing dodgy dealings for a woman named Juliette, and Penny hid the drugs in Lauren's bag without her knowing.

Viewers know that after landing, the drugs were found in Lauren's bag and she was arrested with Penny seeking out her dad Jack Branning in Walford. The truth all came out, with Penny eventually telling the police the truth to free Lauren - while it's not known how much she told them about Juliette who the police were keen to investigate.

Lauren Branning discovered another Walford character was her secret sister on the BBC soap (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

On Monday night, Lauren was released and she returned home. But from the off, she was faced with memories which reminded her why she left Walford in the first place.

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With her grandmother Dot Cotton no longer around and memories of her sister Abi Branning's death almost seven years ago, not to mention the murder of her friend Lucy Beale back in 2014, Lauren struggled to be home. Things only worsened when she found out about Penny's lies, and the fact Peter Beale, Louie's dad, knew about the drugs being Penny's and he didn't tell her.

Lauren vowed to leave again wanting to stay with her mother Tanya Branning away from Walford. But just as she set off after saying her goodbyes, Lauren's cousin Sonia Fowler and pal Whitney Dean had some shocking news. Earlier in the episode we had seen Linda Carter panicked about Lauren's return, as she feared she might discover her daughter Annie was Max Branning's child.

Linda Carter's daughter Annie is Max Branning's child (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Lauren had no idea she had a secret sister in Annie, as Lauren and her dad Max are in the dark about Annie's paternity. Despite promising to keep Linda's secret, Sonia ended up spilling the beans in a desperate bid to keep Lauren in Walford.

The episode ended as Sonia and Whitney blurted out Lauren had another sister in Walford, but they didn't say who. Lauren will know by the next episode that it's Annie, so how will she react and will it be enough to keep here in Albert Square?

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.* Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on , , , , and .

Charlotte Tutton