EastEnders fans gasped ‘did that just happen?!’ after they spotted Lauren Branning doing something VERY rude while Sonia Fowler gave birth during the live episode on Thursday. 

Viewers of the BBC show couldn’t believe their eyes when the car dealer (Jacqueline Jossa) appeared to sniff the nurse’s knickers just before she was about to welcome her daughter into the world.

Sonia, Lauren and Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) were stuck in the Queen Vic after the huge explosion – and unfortunately Sonia went into labour.    

The pair had to help her deliver her baby girl on the floor of the pub and as Bianca threw Sonia’s pants behind her, Lauren caught them and seemingly put them up to her nose. 

Many rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their confusion over the move. 

One said: ‘Still not over Lauren sniffing Sonia’s knickers tbh.’ 

EastEnders fans gasped ‘did that just happen’ after they spotted Lauren Branning doing something VERY rude while Sonia Fowler gave birth during the live episode on Thursday

Viewers of the BBC show couldn’t believe their eyes when the car dealer appeared to sniff the nurse’s knickers just before she was about to welcome her daughter into the world

Another added: ‘I do have one question though: did Lauren actually sniff Sonia’s knickers when Bianca pᴀssed them to her?’ 

A third questioned: ‘Why did Lauren sniff Sonia’s knickers.’ 

A fourth chimed in: ‘Did Lauren just sniff Sonia’s knickers ?!’ 

Another tweeted: ‘Lauren nooo! Why did you sniff Sonia’s knickers ??!!’ 

A sixth said: ‘#EELive Not Lauren sniffing Sonia’s knickers as she’s handed them… what a scene #EastEnders #EastEnders40 #eastenderslive.’

But on Friday Jacqueline took to social media to confirm that she didn’t actually smell them. 

She said on TikTok: ‘Just to clarify I didn’t sniff them, I was checking what they were and lifting them in sH๏τ, no sniffing.’

‘They usually hit me in the face so I think I just lifted them up to make sure it was in the sH๏τ, this is amazing.’

Many rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their confusion over the move

Just moments later EastEnders fans all made the same joke after a glaring Sonia Fowler blunder during the live episode.

Viewers were worried that the youngster wouldn’t survive after staying quiet after being born.

Sonia, Bianca and Lauren were over the moon when she finally started crying amid the drama. 

However, many fans pointed out the same thing about Sonia’s daughter – that she had some how managed to dramatically grow in size throughout the live ep.

One wrote on X: ‘Sonia’s baby has tripled in size within 5 mins… #EastEnders.’

EastEnders fans all make the same joke after glaring Sonia blunder in live episode – but did you spot it? 

Sonia gave birth to a baby girl in emotional scenes during EastEnders live 40th anniversary episode on Thursday

Another added: ‘Size of that baby.’

A third wrote: ‘Sonia’s baby aged 2 months in 3 minutes.’

While fourth echoed: ‘Bet that hurt to push out – huge!’ 

Sonia gave birth to a baby girl in emotional scenes during EastEnders live 40th anniversary episode on Thursday.

After becoming trapped in the Queen Vic with sister Bianca and cousin Lauren after the explosion, Sonia was left with no choice but to give birth on the floor of the pub.

When the baby – who was fathered by killer Reiss Calwell – arrived, Bianca gasped in horror and said: ‘She’s not breathing!’ 

As the newborn girl began to turn blue, Sonia appeared to go into a state of shock as her lip quivered and she lay back on the ground.

Bianca and Lauren both begged her for help in saving her daughter’s life and she eventually came to her senses and got the little girl to start crying.

The trio were soon rescued by the firefighters who came to put out the blaze and they rejoined their friends and neighbours outside.

By the instalment many fans pointed out the same thing about Sonia’s daughter – that she had some how managed to dramatically grow in size throughout the live ep

Sonia, while sat in the back of an ambulance, cradled her newborn daughter and revealed she named her Julia.

Fans quickly took to X to speculate that the baby was named after Julia Smith, one of the creators and first producers of EastEnders.

As the credits rolled following the death of Martin Fowler, an alternate version of the credits, Julia’s theme, played. 

News of Martin’s death will devastate Sonia as the pair had daughter Chloe together many years ago. 

Fans wrote: ‘Sonia names her newborn Julia – probably a Julia Smith reference. Nice touch’… ‘Martin and Sonia’s baby, as one born, another one is gone.’

‘Oh God how is Sonia gonna feel when she finds out Martin is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ!’

‘For a second I thought Sonia was gonna die during childbirth and Martin would stay alive, BAWLING.’

‘Julia’s theme playing as Sonia has her happy ending while Martin dies.’ 

When the baby – who was fathered by killer Reiss Calwell – arrived, Bianca gasped in horror and said: ‘She’s not breathing!’

As the newborn girl began to turn blue, Sonia appeared to go into a state of shock as her lip quivered and she lay back on the ground

It comes after  actress Natalie announced last month she will be leaving the BBC soap for good following her return last year for its 40th anniversary

It comes after Natalie announced last month she will be leaving the BBC soap for good following her return last year for its 40th anniversary.

In a statement given to The Sun, Natalie said: ‘I feel extremely sad to be writing this, but also very excited.

‘After another 11 solid years back on The Square, I have decided it’s time to move on to pastures new. EastEnders is in my bones so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show.

‘Thank you to Chris Clenshaw for the opportunity to be such a big part of the 40th anniversary – it’s an honour. See ya, Sonia, going but never forgotten.’

Natalie first joined EastEnders in 1993 when she was just 10 years old and remained with the show until 2007.

Fans quickly took to X to speculate that the baby was named after Julia Smith, one of the creators and first producers of EastEnders

She returned as Sonia for a year in 2010 and then returned again last year. 

Natalie reportedly told bosses she was planning on leaving EastEnders last summer.

Natalie has branched out beyond Albert Square many times in her career. During her break from the show, she appeared in theatre productions of The Vagina Monologues and Bedroom Farce.

She released a fitness DVD Natalie Cᴀssidy’s Then and Now Workout in 2007 and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2012.

More recently, she appeared on the BBC sitcom Motherland in 2021 along with an appearance on the comedy show Mandy the year before.

EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.