"Potentially becoming a disabled young mum is overwhelming."
Life is set to change for one particular couple in the BBC’s EastEnders. In upcoming episodes, Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) will find out she’s pregnant.
Penny is currently dating Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota), who is surprisingly supportive of his new romance when he discovers her news.
However, while Vinny tries to be encouraging and nurturing, Penny’s father, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), has an opposite reaction.
The drama will begin when the Brannings gather for Sunday lunch, and Jack finds a pregnancy test.
First assuming it belongs to Lily Slater (Lillia Turner), Jack is stunned when Penny admits that the test is hers.
Penny starts by lying that the test is negative, bringing relief to Jack’s mind, but she is angered by her father’s reaction when it turns out that the feisty young woman is indeed pregnant.
Actress Kitty Castledine said: “‘The reality of potentially becoming a disabled young mum is overwhelming and hard to take in.
“She goes through waves of emotion, just like many new mums do when they find out they’re unexpectedly pregnant.
“The more she opens up to people, the more she realises she has a support network around her.
“She also wants to buy herself some time to process everything and figure out how she truly feels about it and what she plans to do.”
Penny is also a cousin of Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier).
Lauren is a mother to two boys – Louie Beale and Jimmy Beale. The latter is severely sight-impaired, and Penny will turn to Lauren for advice.
Kitty continued: “Penny looks up to Lauren a lot, even though she would never say it to her face.
“She sees what an amazing mum Lauren is, and out of everyone, she knows she can talk to Lauren about her worries and concerns.”
Unfortunately, Oscar accidentally lets slip to Vinny that Penny is pregnant, leading the businessman to rush over to see her.
When Vinny and Penny head to a doctor’s appointment, Penny gets frustrated when she is sidelined during the consultation.
However, what will the couple decide, and how will they cope with Penny’s pregnancy?
Divulging her feelings on the relationship, Kitty said: “They have never crossed paths on the Square, despite the numerous dramas between the Panesars and the Brannings in the past.
“But none of that matters when it comes to Penny and Vinny, as he’s everything Penny has never had in a relationship.
“She has always gone for a bad boy, and the beauty of Penny and Vinny is that they are honest with each other.
“He brings out a soft, warm side of Penny, something we’ve never seen from her before.
“They can learn a lot from each other; they both have qualities the other could benefit from.
“Penny is feisty, dominant, and always says what she thinks, and Vinny needs to stand up for himself against his mum and family.
“Penny could learn from Vinny’s kind-natured heart and his good values – qualities she believes she doesn’t naturally possess.”
Another question concerns the fast-forward episode of EastEnders, aired on January 1, 2026.
Centred on Max Branning (Jake Wood), the episode revealed a baby named Ethan, whose parentage was kept under wraps.
Ethan was seen crying in Jack’s house. Later in the episode, Oscar revealed that Max had saved Ethan and Jimmy.
Could Ethan be Vinny and Penny’s child, and if so, what happens to him to warrant Max’s heroism?
EastEnders airs Penny and Vinny’s pregnancy drama from Monday, February 23, 2026, on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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