Lauren Branning reveals Peter Beale reunion during EastEnders return

By Lewis Knight

Published: Tuesday, 13 December 2022 at 12:00 am

An update on Peter Beale was delivered to his grandmother Kathy Beale in tonight’s EastEnders.

Jacqueline Jossa reprised her role as Lauren Branning for two episodes as part of special storyline depicting the funeral of the iconic Dot Branning (previously Cotton), following on from the death of actress June Brown at the age of 95 earlier this year.

On Tuesday’s episode (13th December 2022), Lauren was seen among the attendees of Dot’s wake at the Queen Vic pub and caught up with her uncle Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and his partner Denise Fox (Diane Parish).

After giving an update on her absent father Max Branning (Jake Wood) and having a showdown with his former lover Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Lauren caught up with Kathy (Gillian Taylforth).

Kathy was shown photos of her great-grandson Louie Beale, Lauren’s child with Kathy’s grandson Peter Beale, who is growing up happily in New Zealand.

After Kathy asked if Peter was living with Lauren and Louie in New Zealand, Lauren revealed: “Yeah, he was for a bit. He brought all of these amazing presents.”

Actor Dayle Hudson was axed from the soap earlier this year, with Peter departing on screen in July as he left Walford.

The character’s final storyline saw him publicly denounce his family after feeling he was at the bottom of each of their priorities, aa Kathy had chosen to protect her troubled son Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) rather than see him punished for attacking Peter. Peter also made clear his dislike of Kathy’s partner Rocky Cotton (Brian Conley) for his past as a conman.

Additionally, Peter slept with his brother’s (Bobby Beale) ex-girlfriend Dana Monroe (Barbara Smith), and made clear to Bobby (Clay Milner Russell) that he did not forgive him for the murder of their sister Lucy Beale.