BRANNINGS IN DESPAIR
AS LAUREN MOVES ON, WHAT’S NEXT FOR MAX?
The residents of Walford will gather to pay their respects to Abi in the coming weeks, with Eastenders cast members recently spotted filming her funeral.
Max’s daughter has been declared brainstem dead following her fall from the Queen Vic roof, and he has struggled to accept that nothing more can be done for her (see p8 for the full story). However, these sneaky snaps appear to show a very healthylooking Abi attending her own memorial! So, by some miracle, is there a twist still to come? Or is ghostly Abi back to haunt her dastardly dad?
“Rumour has it that these scenes were filmed before the audience found out that Abi stood zero chance of making a recovery,” reports our Square snitch. “Lorna Fitzgerald [aka Abi] was a good sport and appeared on set so viewers were left guessing about her character’s fate until the end.”
Star Jacqueline Jossa, who plays Lauren, was also spotted on location while hobbling on crutches. Abi’s sister got off incredibly lightly compared with her sibling – but she is still leaving the show as previously announced by Walford bosses. Will the horror of losing her sister see Lauren turn her back on Albert Square and head off into the Glaswegian sunset with boyfriend Josh?
Meanwhile, Max’s nightmare continues as he struggles to cope with losing both his girls. However, there is still some hope for his tortured soul…
“I’ve always felt that Max can be redeemed, as what he’s done has come from genuine feelings of being wronged,” says actor Jake Wood, who plays him. “But obviously the things that he’s done, they’re not the best!”
There is also unfinished business between Max and Stacey following their shock Christmas hook-up. Was it just a one-off?
“I think that it’s very hard to put those embers out altogether,” teases Walford head honcho John Yorke. “There is always something there between those two characters – though it will probably take a backseat for a while, as we have some really big plans for Stacey and the returning Slaters [see previous page]. It’s all going to kick off!”