EastEnders viewers were delighted to get a glimpse of Abi Branning’s baby daughter in tonight’s episode – almost a month after the tot was born!
Weeks after the premature little girl was delivered by C-section, Max finally headed to the hospital to spend some time with his precious granddaughter.
The Branning family were shattered by Abi’s death last month, after making the painful decision to switch off her life support machine. But while the entire clan were round Abi’s bed as she breathed her last, everyone seems to have forgotten that there’s a new member of the family.
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Abi’s loved ones have been torn apart by her tragic passing, with mum Tanya refusing to talk to her former husband Max, as she blames him for their daughter’s death.
In fact, the family have been so busy fighting with each other and casting blame that Abi’s poor little girl has been left to languish in the neo-natal unit of Walford general all alone – up until now.
So when Max paid the hospital a visit to take some pictures with Baby Branning, EastEnders fans were overjoyed to see that the youngster was finally getting some love. Not only that, but they reckon that taking care of his new granddaughter could save poor Max from his current pit of despair.
Oh! They finally remembered about Abi’s baby!! Hurrah! #EastEnders
— G (@belfastgal81) February 12, 2018
Max branning and he’s holding a baby be still my beating heart ,that was an #eastenders Athena picture moment 💕😉🤣@mrjakedwood
— Trudy (@lilmizsparkle) February 12, 2018
Does Abi’s baby have a name yet? I thought they needed to be registered by a certain time? #EastEnders
— ……… (@dervlapatricia) February 12, 2018
Aw Abi’s daughter is cute! Same hairline as her grand-dad as well! #EastEnders
— Artie Jeepy (@ArtieJeepy) February 12, 2018
When are we going to know the name of Baby Branning/Beale? #EastEnders
— Tina (@ElloTeenah) February 12, 2018
Someone’s remembered to visit Abi’s baby 👏👏👏#eastenders
— 💕Susanna Morgan 💕 (@S__Morgan13) February 12, 2018
And visiting his baby granddaughter was Max’s only moment of joy in tonight’s episode.
With his daughter Abi having been dead for a few weeks now, Max was keen to find out what was happening with her funeral.
After paying Jay a visit at Coker’s funeral parlour, he was none the wiser. Even Lauren didn’t seem to be able to shed any light on when it was happening.
Max finally got confirmation from Billy that Coker’s was handling his daughter’s send-off, and marched round there to demand some answers. So imagine his heartbreak when Lauren dropped the bombshell that Abi’s funeral had already happened – without him!
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It was a bitter blow for poor Max, who’s been to hell and back since his daughter’s death. His whole family has pretty much turned their backs on him following Abi’s tragic accident, and all he wants is to be able to say one final goodbye to his beloved little girl.
So with no-one else bothered about Abi’s baby, could Max be the one to bring her up? It would certainly give him the purpose in life that he’s searching for, and maybe score him a few brownie points with the rest of his family in the process.
But let’s not forget that the baby is part Beale as well, and Ian’s bound to have a thing or two to say about his arch-enemy bringing up his grandchild!
EastEnders continues tomorrow at 7.30 on BBC1.