EastEnders airs truth behind Nancy and Lee Carter pregnancy as Linda also comes clean in early BBC iPlayer release

Soap fans, you can pick your jaw up off the floor. EastEnders has cleared up yesterday's seriously concerning doof doof with a simple explanation.

It came after Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill) returned to Walford to seek legal advice from younger brother Johnny (Charlie Suff). She was adamant that their interfering mum Linda (Kellie Bright) shouldn't know about her comeback, and later began to feel pains in her stomach.

Johnny advised that she go to the hospital, and Linda's secret lover Max Branning (Jake Wood) watched her jump into a taxi.

After being tipped off about the circumstances, Linda and mum Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) raced to the infirmary and were stunned to realise that Nancy was pregnant. She insisted that they kept out of her business, and chose not to disclose the baby's father.

Later that day, Nancy showed up at Peacock Palace with the baby daddy in tow - her brother Lee (Danny Hatchard).

While the cliffhanger implied that the BBC soap was going down some dodgy incest cliffhanger, today's episode confirmed that something far more innocent was occurring. Nancy had agreed to be surrogate for Lee and his partner Jess, though they're facing quite the predicament.

The couple have separated, and Lee is insistent that she shouldn't have anything to do with their unborn child.

Linda questioned whether the baby would need a maternal influence, though Nancy reminded her that she made the decision a long time ago not to have her own children and that she had no intentions of mothering this one.

The reason Nancy consulted Johnny was because Lee was worried that Jess would try and gain full custody.

Later, Linda met up with Max and expressed her concerns. She was worried that, after giving birth, Nancy would want to keep the baby or would forever be upset that she let it go.

Meanwhile, Johnny advised his siblings that Nancy didn't have to give up her parental rights or tell Jess when she eventually gives birth. She could also transfer them to Lee, though as he is the father, he would automatically be listed on the birth certificate.

Upon returning to the B&B, Linda thought that by opening up about her relationship with Max, she could start afresh with her children.

They weren't happy. Nancy branded it a "fairytale", while Elaine suggested that any interference from them would be ignored. She tried, though ultimately, the pair were settled.

The trio of Carter kids then headed to The Vic, and were quickly followed by Linda. She said that it was clear that they didn't respect her decision, and although they'd always be welcome, their judgement wasn't.

Lee then received a call from Jess, where he asserted that their baby was nothing to do with her - he wasn't disclosing his location, and she wasn't to call again.

Will Jess try and track him down?

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
• EastEnders favourite Balvinder Sopal teases Ash return is "grenade" to the Panesar family unit this autumn
• EastEnders announces hard-hitting Amy Mitchell storyline as BBC soap works with charities

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Authors

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.