EastEnders fans finally have an answer to one of the biggest mysteries of the 2026 New Year’s Day flashforward: baby Ethan. After weeks of speculation about who the infant in Jack Branning’s care belongs to, Penny has confirmed she is pregnant with Vinny Panesar’s baby.
While Jack has promised to support her, the future looks incredibly dark for the Branning family based on what we’ve already seen of 2027. Keep scrolling to learn more.
Jack Tries To Understand Penny’s Fears
Jack Branning’s world tilted when he found the pregnancy test tucked away in the family shopping. At first, he questioned Chelsea if it belonged to her, then questioned Lily at the uneasy Sunday lunch. But everything became silent when Penny finally said the test belonged to her. The new mum went straight upstairs to take it again and returned, saying that it was negative.
However, the truth was revealed when Denise found the discarded test and saw the positive result. She then showed it to Jack, leading him to confront Penny. That’s when Penny admits that she hid the truth because of the way he reacted earlier. Penny says, “You weren’t expecting me to be able to have a baby, like this.” This line forced Jack to realise how much her daughter had been carrying inside.
The next day, she avoided him in the Square. And walked past without having a conversation. Later at the cafe, she opened up to Lauren. The new mum admitted she had lied, that she was indeed pregnant. Penny added, “I’ve never actually seen a mum in a wheelchair on the street.” However, Lauren gave her some hope. She said that motherhood was hard for anyone and that Penny wasnt as alone as she felt.
Later, her father, Jack, came with flowers to soften the distance. The Branning man explained that he was shocked, and he has the same fear for any of his children. He even apologised for the years he wasnt there, tied down by guilt from her accident.
Penny Struggles With Her Future As Vinny Learns The Truth In EastEnders
Later, Jack asked if she had decided on the baby. However, she admitted she hadn’t. The dad then encourages her daughter to speak to a professional first. However, soon Vinny arrived. Oscar had told him about the scare, and he rushed to check on her. That’s when Penny finally said it out loud. She said that the test was positive, and she was carrying his baby. However, Vinny didn’t panic and asked her to take her time.
After he left, Jack promised Penny one thing. ‘ If you decide to have the baby, I will be at your side all the time, ‘ he said. Nevertheless, in the New Year’s flashforward, Jack was seen alone with a baby called Ethan. So the question is: Which path will Penny take? For more EastEnders spoilers and updates, keep following Soap Opera Daily.