NOT HAVIN’ A LARF

EastEnders’ ‘grimmest ever’ Xmas as sisters fall from Queen Vic roof

EASTENDERS had one of its grimmest Christmases ever last night – as two characters were feared dead at the end of the episode.

Viewers saw Lauren Branning ( Jacqueline Jossa) and sister Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald) plummet from the roof of the Queen Vic pub after trying to help father Max ( Jake Wood).

Whether Lauren and Abi survive the fall is unknown, but both of the actresses who play the characters have previously announced they are leaving the show.

A show source admitted: “We knew not all fans would be pleased with this, but EastEnders is known for being dramatic and depressing during the festive period.

“We hope everyone will now be talking about the Brannings.”

Jacqueline, 25, said she was thrilled to be given the dramatic scenes she had hoped for as she filmed some of her last moments in Walford.

She said: “I think when you’re leaving, it’s like, ‘It better be Christmas’, and, ‘I better be falling off the Vic.’

“You want it to be big, everyone speaking about it.”

Lorna, 21, first arrived in Albert Square 11 years ago, while Jacqueline took over from Madeline Duggan as Lauren in 2010.

The pair’s hair-raising scene comes almost a year after Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell’s double death by drowning in a swimming pool in the 2017 New Year’s Day episode.