Jacqueline Jossa has set the record straight after EastEnders fans were left baffled by a moment where it looked like she sniffed Sonia Fowler’s knickers during the soap’s 40th-anniversary live episode.

The awkward scene unfolded as Lauren Branning, played by Jacqueline, 32, helped Sonia, who is played by Natalie Cᴀssidy, 41, prepare to give birth. 

Patsy Palmer’s character Bianca Jackson then threw a pair of pants towards Lauren, and viewers were convinced she lifted them to her nose before casually tossing them aside.

Social media erupted with fans questioning what they had just witnessed, with many replaying the clip in disbelief. 

But Jacqueline has now laughed off the claims and explained what really happened.

Taking to social media, she clarified: ‘Just to be clear, I didn’t sniff them! I was checking what they were and lifting them into the sH๏τ – no sniffing involved.’ 

Jacqueline Jossa has set the record straight after EastEnders fans were left baffled by a moment where it looked like she sniffed Sonia Fowler’s knickers during the soap’s 40th-anniversary live episode

The awkward scene unfolded as Lauren Branning, helped Sonia prepare to give birth as Patsy Palmer’s character then threw a pair of pants towards Lauren, viewers were convinced she lifted them to her nose before casually tossing them aside

She added: ‘They hit me in the face so I think I just lifted them up to make sure it was in the sH๏τ’ ending her post with laughing emojis.

It comes after EastEnders fans gasped ‘did that just happen?!’ after they spotted the gaffe 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.

Sonia, Lauren and Bianca 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.’ 

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

After EastEnders fans spotted the gaffe during the live show with many taking to X to gasp ‘did that just happen’ Jaqueline has now laughed off the claims and explained what really happened

Taking to social media, she clarified: ‘Just to be clear, I didn’t sniff them! I was checking what they were and lifting them into the sH๏τ – no sniffing involved’

The ‘knicker sniffing’ scene happened just before Sonia Fowler was about to welcome her daughter into the world having survived the Queen Vic pub explosion

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.’

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

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

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.’

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.

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

 However after managing to escape and sitting in the back of an ambulance, she cradled her newborn daughter and revealed that she had named her Julia

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!’ 

Read More Ex Eastenders star makes sly dig as bosses reveal secrets to hide shock death for 40th anniversary

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.

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.’

Many fans speculating the name was after Julia Smith, one of the creators and first producers of EastEnders which celebrated 40 years on air on

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

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

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.

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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.