EASTENDERS REVEALS DARK THREAT IN DRAMATIC OSCAR BRANNING DEBUT | BBC iPLAYER EXCLUSIVE
Episode Drop – July 18, 2025

Just when Walford thought the worst of the Branning family saga was behind them, EastEnders pulled the curtain back on a new era of danger, legacy, and family darkness — and it comes in the form of Oscar Branning, now a grown man, stepping into the Square with a glare as sharp as his father’s and secrets that could tear it apart

In a surprise BBC iPlayer exclusive episode released ahead of its BBC One broadcast, fans were introduced to the newest Branning wildcard — and the show wasted no time in setting the tone: Oscar isn’t just back — he’s bringing a threat that could rock Walford to its core.

A New Generation Enters the Scene

It’s been over a decade since viewers last saw Oscar Branning as a child. The son of Max Branning and Tanya Cross, Oscar was swept away from the chaos of Walford after years of family scandal, betrayal, and trauma.

But now, he’s back — older, hardened, and with a clear agenda.

The episode opened with a black motorcycle pulling into the Square just after sunrise. The helmet came off slowly… and there he was. Oscar Branning, now in his early 20s, cold-eyed and unreadable.

As he walked past the Queen Vic and glanced toward No. 31, a subtle piano cue from the Branning theme played — and longtime fans knew: this wasn’t just a cameo. This was the beginning of something big.

The First Encounters: Reactions and Suspicion

Oscar’s first stop? Dotty Cotton’s flat — where he confronted her with a line that left viewers instantly hooked:

“You knew I’d come eventually. The debt my dad owes? I’m here to collect.”

Dotty was visibly shaken. “You’re not your father,” she whispered.
Oscar’s chilling response?

“No. I’m worse.”

He quickly made waves across the Square:

• Jack Branning was floored when Oscar walked into the police station demanding files on Max’s old case.

• Lauren, back in town temporarily, was horrified to see her half-brother again — especially when he hinted that he had information about Abi’s paternity that “no one’s ready to hear.”

• Phil Mitchell, ever the cynic, called Oscar “a Branning in a leather jacket — nothing but trouble.” But even he looked nervous after a tense exchange outside the Arches.

The Dark Threat Revealed

The real bombshell came in the final act of the episode, when Oscar visited the grave of Dot Branning, only to find Jay Brown already there. After an initially civil exchange, Oscar dropped the real reason he’s back:

“Someone made my dad disappear. I know who. And I know what they did.”