Uh oh! Max Branning is set to MISS Abi’s funeral in EastEnders

Max Branning

by Eden-Olivia Lord |
Published on

EastEnders Spoilers: Max Branning is set to miss Abi Branning's funeral

Abi Branning may have passed away in EastEnders a few weeks ago but there's more drama in store for the family before the residents and viewers can finally wave goodbye to the infamous character.

Fans of the show are aware that during the dramatic Christmas Day episode Lauren and Abi both fell off the Queen Vic roof after they tried to stop their dad Max from committing suicide.

Following the fall, Lauren managed to survive with a few cuts and bruises but after the younger Branning sister was left brain dead they decided to turn off her life support machine.

Check out: The BEST EastEnders Christmas Day episodes

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Eastenders Christmas Day episodes SLIDER

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CREDIT: BBC

10. Kat and Alfie get their happily ever after

Not every EastEnders love story ends in disaster (yes, really!), and on Christmas Day 2005 we were all left stunned after EastEnders' answer to Romeo and Juliet - Kat and Alfie Moon - finally got their happily ever after. Known for their sizzling passion for each other, these two never shied away from a fiery row - private or public. However, all seemed doomed for the pair when Alfie took off on Christmas Day leaving heartbroken Kat shoeless and alone in The Vic. But in modern day Romeo style, Alfie was waiting outside by his Ford Capri to whisk his girl off into the sunset (well, a snowy Albert Square, but still!).

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CREDIT: BBC

9. Frank Butcher RETURNS

Who could that be knocking on the door on Christmas Day? Santa? Rudolph? No, it's Frank Butcher of course! Frank made his return to Albert Square on Christmas Day 1995 after over a years absence, much to the horror of Pat, who'd recently shacked up with fellow car dealer Roy Evans. Awks!

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CREDIT: BBC

8. Max Branning comes back to Albert Square

Christmas Day 2016 saw the shock return of the infamous Max Branning. After serving time in prison after being falsely accused of Lucy Beale's murder, a bitter Max returned to the square in the last 30 seconds of the Christmas special. The 'duff duff duff' left us all gawping at our screens wondering what this meant for the residents of Albert Square - especially the Beales!

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CREDIT: BBC

7. Dirty Den serves Ange a divorce

We couldn't write an ultimate ranking of EastEnders' most SHOCKING Christmas Day episodes without throwing it back to the 80's when Den and Ange were the landlords of The Queen Vic (we know, nostalgia alert). Who can forget Christmas Day 1986 when Dirty Den presented Ange with a divorce-shaped Crimbo present, after finding out about her cancer lie. Only on EastEnders, eh!

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CREDIT: BBC

6. Pauline Fowler passes away (under the square's Christmas tree, of course!)

Feisty Pauline Fowler was in EastEnders for an incredible 21 years, so we have to admit, we were a little disappointed that her death was so, well, low key. After a bust-up with Sonia in The Queen Vic, Pauline took a little lie down under the square's Christmas tree... and never woke up again. It may not have been dramatic, but it was certainly moving.

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CREDIT: BBC

5. Archie Mitchell meets his maker

Villainous Archie Mitchell may have only been in EastEnders for a year and a half, but caused all sorts of trouble in that time. Things came to a head (pun intended!) on Christmas Day 2009, when Archie was whacked over the head with The Queen Vic's iconic bar statue in front of 10.9 million viewers. What a way to go.

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CREDIT: BBC

4. Jamie Mitchell's heartbreaking goodbye

One of EastEnders' saddest Christmas Day moments has to be when we said goodbye to the adorable Jamie Mitchell. His relationship with Sonia may have been short-lived (thanks to Martin Fowler, who accidentally knocked Jamie down in a dramatic hit and run), but it was definitely the real thing. Jamie and Sonia's love story came to a tragic end on Christmas Day 1998, when Jamie took his final breaths in hospital with Sonia by his side, as the couple declared their undying love for each other. In true EastEnders style, Jamie's heartbreaking final moments were shown alongside scenes of Mo and Billy's marriage vows to the soundtrack of 'Stand by Me'. Basically, the whole nation was left bawling into their family-sized tubs of Celebrations.

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CREDIT: BBC

3. Mick FINALLY discovers Dean raped Linda

Christmas Day 2014 saw Mick Carter go full Danny Dyer when he FINALLY found out about Dean raping Linda. After months of tension, Linda finally cracked under the pressure of Mick's romantic proposal and revealed that Dean attacked her. Naturally, furious Mick went straight for Dean's throat (destroying their Christmas dinner in the process), only halting his attack when Shirley dropped yet another bombshell – that Dean and Mick are brothers! What. A. Day.

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CREDIT: BBC

2. Evil Trevor torments Little Mo

Christmas 2001 was quite possibly EastEnders' bleakest festive showing of all time, as it focused on Little Mo and her abusive husband Trevor. The nation held its collective breath as we watched evil Trevor overflow Mo's Christmas dinner with gravy, before shoving the whole lot on the floor and making his terrified wife eat the remains off the carpet. Cheery it was not.

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CREDIT: BBC

1. Max and Stacey's affair is revealed!

Christmas 2007 was an absolute corker of an episode that will be forever imprinted on our memories, as it was the year Max and Stacey's torrid affair finally came out into the open. For those who have forgotten (HOW COULD YOU?), the horrible truth came out when little Lauren reluctantly gave Bradley a copy of his wedding video for Christmas… although it turned out she'd actually caught Max and Stacey snogging each other's faces off on camera, much to the horror of the extended Branning family and, in fact, the rest of the nation.

Max Branning Jay Brown
©BBC

Now, it's time for Abi's final farewell on the square but in upcoming scenes Max will be told that he's missed his daughter's funeral.

It all kicks off after Max, who is still being shunned by the rest of the Square because they blame him for Abi's death, begins to ask Jay Brown questions about his daughter's funeral.

He later asks Lauren and his brother Jack about Abi's funeral arrangements but gets the shock of his life when they tell him it's already happened.

Eek!

Lauren Branning Max Branning
©BBC

Max, who is clearly devastated, turns to alcohol and asks Jay where his daughter has been buried. It's not long before he's attempting to drive off but is luckily enough stopped by Mick Carter from drink driving.

After having a chat with the landlord, Max has a change of heart and tells Lauren he understands their decision to go ahead with the funeral without him.

Things take a turn for the worse when he begins questioning Lauren and soon realises that the funeral hasn't happened, the family just don't want him there.

Lauren Branning
©BBC

Max continues to ask his daughter about the details of Abi's funeral but it's not long before Lauren tells him Tanya won't attend if he's there before adding he'll lose her too.

The villain of Walford is left devastated following Lauren's revelation. While the rest of the residents prepare to mourn for Abi - will Max make a last minute appearance at the funeral? Or will he stay away and attempt to keep what remains of his relationship with Lauren?

Let us know what you think will happen on Facebook or Twitter.

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