14 EastEnders questions we have after dramatic new trailer - from Christmas chaos to Suki and Eve heartbreak and Janine return

The BBC One soap has unveiled an epic new trailer highlighting some of the drama and comedy we can expect over the next few weeks in the run-up to Christmas on Albert Square.

Unsurprisingly, as we build to the events of New Year's Day, a lot of the drama revolves around Max Branning (Jake Wood) as his list of enemies begins to pile up.

Elsewhere, there is heartache for Suki (Balvinder Sopal) and Eve Panesar-Uwnin (Heather Peace), a big decision for Denise Fox (Diane Parish), a Christmas clash for the Hawkins family, and some Carter family upset that may or may not be linked to the finally-confirmed return of Janine Carter (Charlie Brooks).

Watch the trailer below.

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However, of course, it leaves us with many questions.

1. Is Kat Moon ready to kill Max Branning?

The last few weeks have been full of the heartache felt by Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) as she mourns her daughter Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) but has been thirsty for revenge against the man who she thinks willfully left Zoe to die.

Of course, the last person we know who saw Zoe alive was Max himself, but he believed she was drunk and refused to help her, later being tormented with guilt after her death.

Kat wants the man who Zoe said on a call to 999 that "left her" and has sworn loving husband Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) to eventually kill the man.

Here, during the festive season, Kat coldly states that she wants "him" dead. Does she know the truth about Max?

2. Will Sean Slater be the one to stop Craig Ingram?

We know that Sean Slater (Rob Kazinsky) is back to bring his own special brand of chaos and join the hunt to find Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) and her abuser, Craig Ingram (played by Matthew James-Bailey).

Sean can be seen in a confrontation with Max, reminding Max of the occasion in 2008 when Sean and Max's then-estranged wife Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner) buried him alive in Epping Forest as revenge for his affair with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).

Later, we see Sean finally confront Craig himself and warn him that he is his "conscience".

Amy later appears reunited with stepmother Denise Fox (Diane Parish) in the trailer, so what has happened to Craig?

3. Will Jack Branning cut ties with his brother?

Another confirmation from the trailer is that Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) will discover that Max took money from Amy after discovering the truth about her and Craig.

In the flashforward episode from January, we knew that Jack would fall out with Max once again.

Is this the end for their strong brotherly relationship?

4. Why are the Hawkins imploding at Christmas, and is this how Nicola Mitchell gets her injury?

It appears we know at least one of the major Christmas storylines, as the Hawkins clan are sat around for dinner with an upset Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) facing off with her scheming brother-in-law Ned Hawkins (Jamie Bamber).

Nicola is seen crying and referring to everyone now knowing in time for Christmas. Has Ned exposed Nicola's involvement in her late abusive father's death?

That's not all, either, as it appears Nicola and usually placid sister Gemma Hawkins (Patricia Potter) end up in a brawl and it looks like Nicola takes a tumble down the stairs of Number 1.

Is this why Nicola's ankle is in a cast on New Year's Day 2027?

5. Is this the end of Sukeve?

One storyline with little context is a heartbroken-looking Suki standing on the Square at night; before, in their house, we see Eve boldly proclaim to someone they "wouldn't know what love looked like if you had to pick it out of a police line-up."

Later in the trailer, we can see an upset Suki smashing things up in her kitchen at home.

Has something ruined the couple's plans for adoption? Does it relate to Suki's strained relationship with recently returned daughter Dr Ash Panesar (Sakira Vel)?

Will have to wait and see, along with whether the popular Sukeve pairing will survive...

6. Will Denise Fox really stop treatment?

As Denise continues her treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia, we have seen her at low points consider stopping her treatment to make the most of her time before she dies.

However, she has consistently resolved previously to carry on, but it appears as Christmas approaches that Denise may have revised this idea.

With shocked looks from beloved family members such as daughter Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) and sister Kim Fox-Danes (Tameka Empson) in the trailer, can she be persuaded otherwise?

7. What is driving Linda Carter to potentially relapse?

Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) may be due to depart Walford in 2027, but she's having no shortage of drama in the meantime, with her controversial romance with Max and also upsetting times with her children, not least Lee Carter (Danny Hatchard), who is now struggling with alcoholism as she has before.

However, later in the trailer, we see Linda nursing a bottle in a brown paper bag, with her voice saying, "If you can't beat 'em, self-destruct with them!"

Is Linda really about to relapse into alcoholism again when last time it nearly killed her?

8. Will Ian Beale and Elaine Peacock become a couple?

Their flirtation and chemistry have lasted all of 2026 so far, but we finally see former rivals Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) sharing a romantic kiss.

The pair have previously had casual hook-ups but have never pursued a relationship, but this loving and apparently public kiss here may see that change.

Could Elaine be the next Mrs Beale?

9. Will Lauren Beale and Mark Fowler be caught again?

Ned Hawkins knows about the affair between hypocritical Lauren Beale (Jacqueline Jossa) and Mark Fowler (Stephen Aaron-Sipple).

The pair have been carrying on their affair in secret, behind the back of Lauren's husband and Mark's relative, Peter Beale (Thomas Law).

However, as the pair share another passionate kiss, is someone about to see them?

10. Who is Sharon Watts facing off with?

It's been so good having Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) back in Walford, but it appears that she is set to clash with someone in the coming weeks.

A firm Sharon says: "I ain't scared of you, darlin'."

So, just who exactly is Sharon clashing with this winter? We'll have to get guessing...

11. Why is Ravi Gulati hitting Max Branning now?

Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) has been more peaceful than perhaps expected since the departure of true love Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy), who is pregnant with Max's child.

However, it seems Ravi's fury will be unleashed once again as we see him yelling at Max to stop talking and punching him in the Gulati flat.

Has Max discovered the truth about Priya's pregnancy, and is he causing trouble? Could this drive Ravi to further revenge?

12. Is Penny Branning’s secret about to be exposed?

We know that Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) is concealing that her partner Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota) may not be the biological father of her baby, Ethan Branning-Panesar.

However, the trailer sees Vinny propose to Penny in a public setting, but Penny appears guilty and upset.

This is followed by shots of a shocked-looking Gina Knight (Francesca Henry) and then Gina's boyfriend Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway) smashing glass on the street, looking distressed.

Fans know that Penny believes Harry is most likely to be Ethan's father - has the truth finally come out?

13. Is Cindy Beale working with the New Year’s Day gunman?

Of course, the person most furious with Max in recent weeks has been his abandoned bride, Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), devastated that he dumped her, then had an affair with Priya, then started a new romance with Linda.

We see a gun unveiled in the trailer, followed by shots of Cindy. Does this confirm her as the architect of Max's downfall on New Year's Day?

Finally, the BBC have confirmed that Charlie Brooks is reprising her role as Janine Carter (née Butcher) in the coming weeks.

We don't know what exactly brings Janine back into the lives of our favourite characters, but given Linda is seen looking at a certificate of birth or death in the trailer, could this relate to the changing official deceased status of the 'late' Mick Carter (Danny Dyer)?

Either way, it seems Janine's return is Carter-related, but that iconic smirk of hers does not bode well...

Read more:

• EastEnders legend Jo Joyner returns to Walford set for Branning 'family reunion' - 8 years after last Tanya appearance
• EastEnders star teases "fire and carnage" when Penny Branning's baby paternity secret is revealed

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