EastEnders fans 'solve when Zoe and Max had affair' after recalling past Tanya scene

A past scene may have confirmed an affair between Zoe Slater and Max Branning on EastEnders, according to fans.

On Wednesday night, Max made his explosive return to the BBC soap and it soon became apparent he somehow knew Zoe. The bombshell left fans stunned given Zoe left in 2005, a year before Max debuted in Walford.

With it not explained what their link is fans wondered whether they had had an affair, after it was confirmed that Zoe gave birth to twins in 2006. Amid theories surrounding the father of her babies, and a tragic twist, some viewers recalled a scene from 2006 that may confirm Max is the father.

It was hinted in heartbreaking scenes that Zoe's newborn baby daughter passed away after a traumatic birth. She then fled the hospital and left her baby son behind, wanting him to be adopted.

READ MORE: Max Branning makes dramatic EastEnders return in shock Zoe Slater twist

READ MORE: EastEnders fans 'rumble' Max's link to Zoe - and he's not the father of her baby

It wasn't revealed whether Max was the father or not, but fans think a scene from almost 20 years ago could prove this to be the case. Fans remembered that when Max's wife Tanya Branning showed up to Walford in 2006, she'd mentioned Max having an affair.

The affair happened offscreen, and prior to his Walford arrival. Tanya had commented on their fresh start after forgiving him over an affair.

Fans are now wondering if Zoe was the other woman who Max played away with, and whether this means he was the father of her babies.

Taking to X, one fan said: "There’s every chance Zoe was the girl Max had an affair with off screen BEFORE the Brannings moved to the square, thus making him the twins' dad."

Another fan commented: "June 2006. The Brannings are introduced with Tanya wanting a divorce because Max has been knocking up 'that cow'. Now we know 'that cow' was ZOE."

A further post said: "Didn't Tanya and Max move to the square cos Max was cheating and they wanted a fresh start?"

One fan then wrote: "Max potentially being romantically involved with Zoe before Stacey is mind-blowing." Another fan said of the possible twist: "I've just realised Zoe must have been the woman Max had an affair with before he moved to the Square with Tanya, Lauren and Abi."

A final comment said: "Hear me out. Didn't Max and Tanya move to the square in 2006 after Lauren caught him cheating on Tanya with a woman? Could this woman have been Zoe? Could Zoe's twins be Max's? Could Max be on the warpath because of the adoption?"

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , and Threads.