EastEnders hardman Derek Branning could be meeting a grisly end in a Christmas special. There is speculation that the character, played by Jamie Foreman, could be killed off in the BBC soap after cast members were spotted filming what appeared to be funeral scenes at a churchyard in Hertfordshire, reported The Sun. Scott Maslen (Jack Branning), Steve John Shepherd (Michael Moon), Ann Mitchell (Cora Cross), Jamie Borthwick (Jay Brown) and Lorna Fitzgerald (Abi Branning) were seen on location. Max Branning - played by Jake Wood - is also expected to marry ex-wife Tanya Cross (Jo Joyner) at Christmas. A source told The Sun: "Derek has been a huge force in the Square since he joined and has had some fantastic storylines, but his exit will be his best storyline yet." "It's being kept tightly under wraps because bosses want to surprise fans on Christmas Day," they added. Jamie is set to bow out at Christmas after playing Derek since November 2011. Christmas has always been a dramatic time for the residents of Albert Square. Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra) had to save his family from a fire last year, while Lacey Turner left her role as Stacey Slater in typical soap fashion on Christmas Day in 2010.
