EastEnders fans have come up with a fresh theory about who Jack Branning is grieving in the 2027 flashforward – and it’s not his daughter Penny.
Fans of EastEnders believe they’ve worked out whose death is casting a shadow over Jack Branning on New Year’s Day 2027 — and they don’t think it’s his daughter, Penny Branning.
Speculation that Jack’s eldest child could be killed off first began circulating in January, when a flashforward episode showed him looking distraught while caring for a newborn, with Penny noticeably missing from the scenes.
The theory gathered momentum following Tuesday’s (February 24) episode, which revealed that Penny (Kitty Castledine) is pregnant with Vinny Panesar’s (Shiv Jalota) baby. Many viewers now believe the mysterious baby Ethan could turn out to be Jack’s (Scott Maslen) grandchild.
However, some fans think Jack may instead be grieving another member of the Branning family in 2027.
Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack) became a Branning when she married Jack, shortly before her tragic death on their wedding day.
After her sister Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) began drowning in a hotel swimming pool, Ronnie Mitchell dived in to save her. Tragically, she became tangled in her wedding dress and also drowned — in what remains one of EastEnders’ most heartbreaking scenes.
Ronnie died on January 1, 2017, meaning the New Year 2027 flashforward marks the tenth anniversary of both her death and her wedding to Jack Branning.
“Jack was holding a wedding ring and 1 Jan 2027 is the tenth anniversary of Ronnie’s death, so it’s no surprise he looks upset,” one fan pointed out online. “I think (and hope!) they want us to believe Penny is gone, but it will turn out to be a red herring.”
Another viewer agreed, writing: “I would absolutely love it if Jack’s New Year storyline was about Ronnie — mainly because I don’t want Penny to die, so I’m choosing to believe it’s a red herring.”
“But also because b) I really hope it becomes a chance to bring Ronnie back. She and Jack were perfect together. Ronnie was literally the love of Jack’s life, and if Kathy can return from the dead, so can Ronnie Mitchell! It would also be a clever way to include Amy in the Mitchell family dynamic.”
Some viewers were confused by the idea of Penny dying, noting that since Vinny is the father, the Panesars would likely have stepped in to care for Ethan rather than leaving him with Jack.
One fan asked: “Would Suki [Panesar-Unwin, played by Balvinder Sopal] really let her new grandchild be looked after by Jack Branning?”
Suki and her partner Eve (Heather Peace) have been trying to adopt a child, with Suki even attempting to convince her step-granddaughter Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) not to have an abortion and instead give the baby to her.
The couple’s desire for a child also affected Vinny’s decision not to support his half-brother Ravi Gulati’s (Aaron Thiara) business schemes this week, as Suki “couldn’t risk” Ravi’s criminal reputation putting their own chances at parenthood in jeopardy.
Some fans have suggested that Ethan himself might be a red herring. “I’m still not convinced that Ethan is actually Penny’s,” one wrote.
Another added: “Unless Suki has left, there’s no way she would allow that baby to be with Jack — which is why I genuinely think Ethan has nothing to do with Penny or Vinny.”
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