EastEnders are expanding the Branning family this year, with the return of Lauren Branning’s (Jacqueline Jossa) younger brother Oscar.
The character, who was born on screen in 2007, is the son of Max Branning (Jake Wood) and his ex-wife Tanya Cross (Jo Joyner).
With Jake reprising his role later this year, it has now been reported that he won’t come back to Albert Square alone.
Last seen portrayed by child actor Charlee Hall, the BBC soap has recast the part with Netflix star Pierre Moullier stepping into Oscar’s shoes.
Metro first reported Pierre’s casting on Wednesday, as new filming pictures showed him on location with co-stars Jacqueline, Peter Beale favourite Thomas Law and Ian Beale legend Adam Woodyatt.
Outside of an abandoned building, Lauren and the newbie can be seen carrying a number of holdalls and rucksacks. Peter can be seen sitting in a van with Oscar, before the group rush over towards three ne’er-do-wellers.
They’re also wearing tracksuits, and are holding bags, with one of them carrying a cricket bat down the front of his trousers.
Lauren, can be seen shouting at Peter, as she seems to try and bargain with the gang.
As the situation escalates, the weapon is brought out and they’re threatened. Ian darts towards the van and encourages Oscar to get away from the situation as quickly as possible.
With the vehicle speeding off, the thugs wave the cricket bat in their direction.
After some speculation over Pierre’s role from this soaps reporter, The Sun have now confirmed that he is portraying Oscar Branning.
A source told the publication: ‘It is an exceptional bout of casting – Pierre looks more like a younger Jake than Jake did himself. It’s uncanny.
‘He’s going to bring something new to Oscar and the character will definitely set the cat amongst the pigeons in the Square.’
As Oscar was just a child last time we saw him in 2017, he hasn’t had many storylines, though the character was very much at the heart of Max’s affair with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).
Following the explosive fall out in that memorable Christmas Day episode, the youngster was crying upstairs. Tanya rushed to attend to him and pack her bags, and was sent tumbling down the staircase.
He was due to visit Max for his tenth birthday, though Tanya changed her mind at the last hour when she learnt that he had tried to con his neighbours in a scam with dodgy Weyland & Co.
