BBC EastEnders’ Lauren Branning discovers life-changing DNA twist as she returns to Walford
EastEnders spoilers confirm the return of Lauren Branning in upcoming scenes as she heads back to Walford on the BBC soap, but she soon makes a major DNA discovery
EastEnders’ Lauren Branning returns to Albert Square next month, and she’s stunned by a DNA bombshell.
The character who made a brief comeback earlier this year returns to Walford for the first time since Dot Cotton’s funeral in 2022, and she’s not happy after drama with her cousin Penny Branning.
Lauren is making a permanent return to the show, with actress Jacqueline Jossa reprising her role. Lauren left Walford back in 2018. She will be returning with her and Peter Beale’s son Louie, but they’re not alone.
Joining Lauren in Walford is her cousin, Jack Branning’s daughter Penny. Penny’s return comes 15 years after she last appeared in Albert Square back in 2008.
Upcoming scenes will see Penny head to Walford without Lauren, and she’s soon left struggling to cope. But more becomes clear when Lauren finally heads home, and is reunited with Peter, Louie and Penny.
EastEnders spoilers confirm the return of Lauren Branning (
BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Lauren soon makes a discovery though about something Penny is hiding, so she decides to go to her mum Tanya’s immediately. She’s stopped in her tracks though by her cousin Sonia Fowler, who drops a DNA bombshell that changes Lauren’s life.
Linda Carter is terrified that Lauren will discover the truth about her daughter Annie’s paternity, and that Lauren’s father Max Branning is Annie’s dad, but Whitney promises not to tell her pal the truth. Sonia does just this though, revealing all about her secret sister.
Lauren bursts into The Vic and demands to know why Linda didn’t tell her that Annie is her sister, but will she tell Max and what will Linda do? Later in the week, Penny overhears Lauren telling Peter she’s staying and lets him see Louie, and Penny hopes she might thaw towards her too.
But Lauren refuses to forgive her, and Sonia decides to take matters into her own hands. It seems they make amends, as spoilers reveal Lauren and Penny start flat hunting.
Announcing her comeback last month, Jacqueline declared: “I’m really excited. It’s such an amazing time to be back as there is so much buzz around EastEnders at the moment. I’ve been watching and loving it like a fan. Walford holds a special place in my heart, so it really does feel like coming home.”
