Could Ned be EastEnders’ New Year gunman?
Could Ned be EastEnders’ mystery New Year gunman? A new fan theory links his growing blackmail storyline with Lauren and Mark.
Could EastEnders be quietly moving Ned into one of the biggest mysteries from its New Year flash-forward?
Some fans are now wondering whether Ned could eventually be revealed as the unidentified gunman involved in the terrifying scenes teased for New Year’s Day 2027.
The flash-forward showed Max arrested on his wedding day while members of his family, including Lauren, faced a masked intruder with a gun.
There is currently no confirmation that Ned is the gunman, but his latest storyline has given viewers more reason to consider him.
Ned discovers Lauren and Mark meeting secretly and realises he has information he can use against them. He then puts Mark under pressure, threatening to expose what he knows unless Mark does what he wants.
Fans have also pointed to Nicola and George appearing in the flash-forward.
Ned is Nicola’s brother-in-law, giving him a direct connection to characters already caught up in whatever unfolds around Max and his family.
There has even been debate over whether the masked gunman physically resembles Ned, particularly when standing beside Lauren.
Others have suggested that even if Ned is not personally behind the mask, his increasingly manipulative behaviour could leave open the possibility that somebody else is acting for him.
Ned only arrived in Walford in August 2026 as part of the Hawkins family after his home and business were destroyed in a fire. He initially appeared to be a dependable family man, but his darker side has gradually emerged.
Most significantly, viewers have since learned that Ned helped Nicola cover up the death of her father, adding another reason why fans are treating him as a serious possibility rather than simply a random name.
For now, however, the Ned theory remains exactly that. EastEnders has not confirmed the identity of the masked gunman or established that Ned will have any involvement in the New Year storyline, but the build up to the big reveal and the guessing game has already begun!
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer. Images: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
