EastEnders fans are convinced that Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) and Max Branning (Jake Wood) are heading for a New Year wedding after their spark reignites in upcoming scenes. Despite Linda's current romance with newcomer Clive Masters (Jason Durr), the pair share another charged moment next week, leaving viewers questioning whether Max could still be her groom.
Linda's conflicted feelings
Linda's world was rocked last year when Max, who she controversially cheated on soulmate Mick (Danny Dyer) with six years earlier, turned up in the Square. Initially reluctant to let him get to know Annie – the daughter he unknowingly fathered prior to his departure in 2021 – Linda eventually relented and introduced Max to his little girl. It didn't take long for old feelings to resurface between the two parents.
However, Max destroyed any hope of a future together when he got up to his old tricks. Linda swiftly realised that she and Max would never work as a couple, reiterating such a thing to him in a dramatic showdown which left him devastated.
Moving on with Clive
The former pub landlady attempted to move on with her life. Following a dalliance with Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp), she met newcomer Clive, who swept her off her feet amid their joint mission to save the community centre. Clive is everything Linda could ask for in a man, and his understanding of what it's like to lose the love of your life saw them connect on a whole other level. After a number of dates, the pair set another in motion for next week.
Happiness seems on the cards for Linda – but as is pretty much always the case in Walford, the answer is Max Branning. The Square's resident car salesman steps in to look after Annie so that Linda may go on her date – but in doing so, it becomes clear that there are still feelings between them. Linda and Max do their best to avoid said feelings, but will this unexpected moment sabotage Linda's date with Clive?
Wedding speculation intensifies
What's more, is this unexpected spark confirmation that Linda could still be Max's New Year bride? If we judge it by what's going on onscreen at the moment, Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) looks set to be the bride in question. But this is EastEnders we're talking about. Could a last-minute switch-up be on the cards, and Linda turn out to be the next Mrs Branning?
Max, as viewers know, is set to wed a mystery Walford woman on January 1 2027, with the scenes in question having been teased in a flashforward episode earlier this year. Linda was seen among the possible bride-to-bes, as was Cindy, who he has since embarked on a full-blown relationship with. Max and Cindy's dynamic has been incredibly well received by fans who reckon they are perfect for one another given their penchant for chaos and destruction.
Max's cheating scandal
But despite the couple being a match made in heaven, Max is cheating on Cindy with Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy), who he arranges to meet with again after his little moment with Linda next week. On the day of Cindy and Kim Fox's (Tameka Empson) hen dos, Max wakes up in Priya's bed! He makes an excuse when quizzed on his whereabouts by Cindy, who buys his lie – and she ropes Priya into helping with the planning!
Priya begins to feel guilty and, when Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) pops the question, she heads back to the flat to call off her affair with Max. The question is: will Cindy find out about the affair and call off the wedding? And if so, will Linda become the bride instead?
Kellie Bright's exit
It was confirmed over the weekend that star Kellie Bright is set to leave EastEnders after 13 years, so will Linda find her happiness as the next Mrs Max Branning? EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or streams from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
