The Queen Victoria is set to gain new owners very soon
EastEnders fans think they've worked out who the next owner of the Vic will be following the soap's 'accidental' announcement on social media earlier this week
The Queen Victoria is set to gain new owners very soon – as EastEnders accidentally let the secret out the bag in a huge TikTok blunder. Currently, the pub is owned by Linda Carter and her mother, Elaine Knight – but it looks like their reign of the ‘newly revamped’ Vic could be over very soon.
The TikTok video which let the secret slip, featured Aaliyah James, Elijah Holloway, Laura Doddington and Sophie Khan Levy – who play Avani Nandra-Hart, Harry Mitchell, Nicola Mitchell and Priya Nandra-Hart respectively. As the actors stood outside the Vic, eagle eyed fans noticed the for sale sign visible on the side of the pub.
EastEnders saw the funny side of the blunder as they later shared a photo on Instagram of Elijah looking at a phone alongside colleagues Emma Barton and Tameka Empson, who play Honey Mitchell and Kim Fox.
EastEnders later joked about the blunder on their Instagram account (Image: BBC)
The trio were sat outside the Queen Vic and the ‘for sale by auction’ sign was prominent in the background, with it up against a window behind them. The caption teased: “Desperately searching for clues in Behind The Scenes #EastEnders content…”
Now, fans have taken to social media to share their theories, and coincidentally, the announcement comes just after it was revealed that Jake Wood would be reprising his role as Max Branning…
“I think Max is going to take over with a new lover,” penned one fan, as another agreed: “Max comes back buying the Vic so him and Lauren and the kids stay there.”
Fans are convinced Max will become the new owner of the Vic upon his return(Image: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)
Others think Max won’t be retuning alone, as they predict he’ll be back with ex-wife Kirsty Branning to run the establishment. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: “I was just thinking maybe max and kirsty branning, she used to work in the vic for a bit and would be better front of house with max in the background. It wouldn’t work with max pulling pints #EastEnders”.
However, others weren’t as convinced, as one fan said: “Max as the owner just wouldn’t work!”
Last week, it was reported that Jake Wood would be returning to the soap as Max Branning, four years after his exit.
A source told The Sun: “Jake’s return is huge news for EastEnders fans as his character made a massive mark on the show. It’ll raise some eyebrows after he was absent from the 40th anniversary earlier this year.
“Bosses are excited about what his character’s reappearance means for spicing up the plots. There is plenty to go at. Max has loads of unfinished business in the Square and is set to ruffle some feathers.”
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
