EastEnders fans pointed about an apparent “blunder” when a “truth bomb” aired at the end of Friday night’s episode. In the latest instalment of the BBC soap, which was released a day early on BBC iPlayer, Max Branning, who made a return to Albert Square in September, had become determined to fix his relationship with his children.

Earlier in the week, Max had accused Ian Beale of stealing the charity money before his own daughter Lauren was forced to reveal herself as the culprit. Max, who is also dad to Oscar Branning, still defended Lauren and promised to pay back the money, but later had to comfort her as her marriage to Peter Beale clearly hung in the balance over the whole issue.

All day, Linda Carter had been agonising if she wanted to tell a completely different truth to Max, and was on edge as he arrived back at the Peacock Palace, where he is currently staying.

Linda told Max that he was Annie’s father (Image: BBC)

It was clear that Linda (Kellie Bright) had something to get off her chest, and she had finally decided to tell him that her daughter Annie was his, a fact viewers have been aware of for some time but she has kept to herself for a number of years.

Noticing something was off, he said: “I’ve had a really long day so if this is you changing your mind about me staying, then can you wait til the morning to kick me out, please? My head is banging.” Clearly with something on the tip of her tongue, Linda begged: “I’m serious. Is it real?”

He replied: “Yeah, I want to be there for my kids and my grandkids because I was never there, was I? If I don’t start now, it’s gonna be too late if it ain’t too late already. So, yeah, I am trying and it is real. I’m gonna go have my curry.”

Dropping the huge revelation, Linda said: “You’ve got three kids, Max. Annie’s your daughter.” Fans will remember that Linda and Max had an affair in the months leading up to Annie’s birth in 2021, at a time when she had still been married to Mick Carter. Max, as expected, looked shocked when he heard the news, and viewers flocked to social media to share their reaction.

Viewers claimed that the wording of the revelation seemed to imply that writers had forgotten about Max’s son Bradley, who fell of the roof of the Queen Vic in 2010(Image: BBC)

Abi Branning also fell off the Queen Vic roof and died, seven years after her brother, but Linda claimed that Max only had three children(Image: BBC/Nicky Johnston)

One wrote: “Oh there we go Max! Annie is yours!” and another said: “Gaspppp, the first Christmas truth bomb has dropped!” But several viewers were quick to point out that the wording of the revelation didn’t quite sit right, as Max was also father to Bradley, who died in 2010, and Abi, who passed away in January 2018.

Pointing out the apparent blunder, one fan wrote: “why is Linda saying max has 3 kids at the end of last night’s episode does he not 5 now Lauren,Bradley,abi,Oscar and annie,” and another said: “What? Was this a deliberate blunder? Max has five kids (Bradley, Lauren, Abi, Oscar & Annie)!”

Another said: “Linda telling max he has 3 kids excusing Bradley and abi… gwan Linda you ignore the dead ones, mad gal.” Another fan suggested: “I think she is meaning three kids on the Square,” and a third insisted: “Can’t stand Max but she’s right. HAVE 3 kids is live kids. Bradley and Abi WERE his kids – but are no more. HAD 5 kids once is the way to include the dead ones.”

Linda had been struggling in their marriage while Mick battled with his mental health, leaving Linda to find attention elsewhere. Prior to the latest revelation, only Max’s eldest daughter, Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa), knows that he is Annie’s father, and she made a vow with Linda to keep the paternity a secret.