EastEnders fans think new spoilers give away exactly how Mark Fowler Jr is linked to Max and Lauren Branning ahead of mystery scenes teased in the recent flashforward

Fans of EastEnders think they know what ties Mark Fowler Jr to the Brannings ahead of New Year's Day 2027.

The significant date was teased in a recent flashforward episode. We saw a glimpse of this day next year, and in it we saw Mark appearing close with Max and Lauren Branning.

Amid theories of an affair as Lauren will be having tense and secret conversations with a mystery person, fans now think new spoilers linked to the car lot will be what ties the trio together. We know that Lauren and Max will join forces with plans to run the business, while there are some disagreements.

In upcoming scenes, Lauren will be offered another proposition by Mark amid a recent car theft plot. Mark tells Lauren about a business opportunity involving luxury cars.

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She has no idea of Mark’s criminal motives though, and when Lauren sells one of the cars it's Max who is suspicious. He isn't so sure about the paperwork, and soon there's a bombshell from detective Callum Highway that leads to Lauren confronting Mark.

Fans now think that Mark's criminal ways will be brought to the car lot, and Max and Lauren will end up involved. This could be what leads to Lauren's possibly threatening calls and messages, with it hinted she's in trouble.

It could also explain why Max and Mark seem close next year, and also why Max is in trouble too, with an arrest and a gun threat. One fan posted: "I was right about their relationship being business and Mark pulling her and Max into organised crime.

"The NYD flash forward had way too many police officers for it not to be organised crime. And I still don’t think she has an affair with Mark. As I’ve said before, it wouldn’t make sense to have both Mark and Vicki in affairs and as bad as the show has been, I don’t think they’d have two affairs running at the same time, especially since the storyline with Vicki and Zack isn’t over yet."

Another said: "I agree with all of that, I've said it since the flashforward too. The text messages Lauren received did not read like they were from a lover, they were very much business. And Lauren wasn't surprised at Max being arrested. Organised crime makes total sense."

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .