EastEnders airs surprise Tanya Branning update in early iPlayer release

EastEnders spoilers follow for Monday’s episode (28 September), which is available to watch now on streaming service BBC iPlayer and hasn’t yet aired on TV.

EastEnders has aired a surprise update about former character Tanya Branning, as a reunion with her daughter Lauren Beale is planned.

Last week, fans were thrilled when Jo Joyner posted some pictures from the set of EastEnders with her co-stars, taking the opportunity to visit when she was filming nearby.

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Now in today’s episode, the character has been mentioned on-screen, as Lauren, Peter and the kids prepared to pay her a visit on a week-long trip to Exeter to coincide with the couple’s wedding anniversary.

However, viewers know that Lauren has recently started up an affair with Mark, and before she left for her family holiday, she headed to No.55 to see her secret lover.

Phil returned home at that point though, so Lauren had to quickly think of a cover story for why she was there and pretended she had a business idea for him.

Mark later met Lauren at the empty car lot and the pair began to get passionate – but they were interrupted by a call from Lauren’s mum Tanya, who wanted to check that they were still coming to Exeter.

Lauren got word that Max was returning to the car lot early, disturbing her and Mark once again.

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She later offered to help Cindy bring up and unload a large delivery of prosecco at The Albert, and Cindy left to spend some time with Louie and Jimmy before they went on holiday.

Meanwhile, Peter went to the prison to visit his dad Ian, who told him the good news that his appeal had been successful, and he was being released next Wednesday.

Peter was thrilled about this, and he also told his dad that his marriage was in a good place at the moment and Mark had got the message to stay out of the way.

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But elsewhere, Lauren used the opportunity of The Albert being free to invite Mark round, where they could continue their passionate encounter that had been interrupted all day.

How will Lauren manage to continue her affair with Mark when she returns to the Square?

EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.

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