EastEnders lines up major threat to Penny Branning's huge baby secret

EastEnders’ Penny Branning panics next week, as she fears her paternity secret will be exposed!

Unsettled when the locals comment on the fact her newborn son Ethan doesn’t bear much resemblance to Vinny Panesar, and seeing Harry Mitchell coo over the kid he has no idea could be his, Penny wonders how long she can hide the shocking truth…

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"Penny has committed to making Vinny believe Ethan is his son, despite her doubts he might be Harry’s," says our EastEnders insider. "This deception is eating away at Penny – especially when people start making pointed comments that make her feel ashamed."

Just before the birth, Penny was adamant she owed it to partner Vinny to be honest; that she had a bunk-up with ex-lover Harry around nine months ago, so there’s a strong chance he is the father of her baby.

Yet after seeing Vinny’s face when he saw on Ethan for the first time, Penny had a change of heart.

The couple have been in a bubble as they get used to the responsibilities of parenthood. Independent Penny wondered if she was cut out for this, and even though she’s surprised herself, the stress of the situation is taking its toll…

"Bringing up a baby is hard," remarks our source. "Penny and Vinny are really suffering with the lack of sleep that comes with night feeds and establishing a routine.

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"The more frazzled Penny gets, the more chance there is she might snap and say something she might regret…"

When Suki makes a barbed comment about Vinny’s parenting skills, this riles Penny up, and she leaps to her other half’s defence. This doesn’t go down well with Suki, who wants what’s best for her family. After all, Ethan is her grandchild – or at least, that’s what she thinks!

After that little altercation, there’s more stress to test Penny’s nerves when her and Vinny take Ethan to The Vic. Proudly showing off their new arrival, Ethan is passed around for cuddles. Eventually Vinny passes him to the last person Penny wants to get close to little Ethan…

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"Suddenly, Harry is holding the baby!" says our insider. "Penny is mortified to watch Vinny hand over his ‘son’ to the man who’s more likely the kid’s biological father. What makes it worse is that Harry looks right at home cradling Ethan."

Adding insult to injury, Rose and Jodie also remark how strange it is that Ethan doesn’t really look like Vinny! Feeling the walls close in, is it time Penny came clean – or should she continue to keep quiet?

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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