Early storylines

Oscar was born onscreen in the episode broadcast on 14 December 2007. He is delivered by Max as Tanya had left it too late to go to hospital. Oscar is named by his sister, Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald). Shortly after Oscar's birth, it transpires that Max has been having a long-term affair with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).^[10] Tanya and Max, despite failed reunions, then feud for numerous years, leaving Oscar constantly placed between his two parents. Tanya eventually marries Greg Jessop (Stefan Booth) and he moves in with them. Tanya later moves Oscar to Exeter so that Oscar's other sister, Lauren, can go to rehab for her addiction to alcohol.^[11]

After Tanya announces plans to do a fashion course in Manchester, she allows Oscar to stay with Max for a while, but he returns to live with Tanya when Max is arrested and charged with the murder of Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater). Oscar's uncle, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), arranges for Oscar to visit Max on Father's Day in 2017, which marked his initial final appearance.^[12]

Recast and gang involvement

In May 2025, British tabloids including The Sun began reporting that EastEnders would be reintroducing Oscar after an eight-year break from the soap.^[5] The reports were confirmed a month later, with the announcement that Counihan-Moullier would be taking over the role of Oscar. His return aired in July of that year, with a 17-year-old Oscar being released from a youth offender institution.^[13] His return was considered part of a revival for the Branning family, with Max also announced as returning to the soap after four years, as well as Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) having been reintroduced a year prior.^[14] Upon his return, Oscar was quickly established as bisexual.^[15]

Oscar's arrival to Walford is a result of begging Lauren to allow him to live with her, Peter Beale (Thomas Law) and their sons. Peter is anxious about the decision, particularly after it transpires that Tanya kicked him out after a gang petrol bombed their house due to Oscar's actions. A member of the gang, Fat Mike (Tai Hilferink), finds him and continues to hassle him.^[16] A source told Digital Spy: "When Oscar arrived in Walford last week, it soon became clear that he was running from a dangerous fella called Mike. The pair went joyriding together and Oscar was caught, but he gave the police Mike's name to try and reduce his sentence. Now Mike wants revenge, and Oscar is in serious trouble! He's tried to make a fresh start in Albert Square, but Mike's sinister text messages have left him terrified."^[16] They continued by explaining how their actions have affected Oscar: "Oscar goes on the attack and lashes out, thinking that Mike is still out to get him, but he doesn't realise that the mystery intruder is just Peter! [...] Peter is furious about this incident and orders him to leave – he's finally had enough of Oscar's antics."^[16]

Mike demands £5000 from Oscar, affirming he will not harm any of his family in return. On the choice Oscar has been given, actor Counihan-Moullier remarked that Oscar would always choose the worst option he is given. He reckoned Oscar should go to his uncle, Jack, a police officer, but the character believes he can raise the funds. Oscar learns Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker), who he has recently befriended, has won money on a bet and forms the idea to steal it from him. Counihan-Moullier explained: "This is the last thing he wants to do, but he’s deeply concerned by Mike and feeling quite alone in this. In his head, he thinks that Patrick wasn't expecting to have this money, so it won't hurt him if Oscar takes it".^[17] He is caught by Howie Danes (Delroy Atkinson) and in a bid to distract him, Oscar pushes Patrick to the ground, leaving him unconscious. Despite his actions, Counihan-Moullier felt that although Oscar had "done some bad things, he's not a bad person".^[17] Howie, who is also suffering from money problems, blackmails Oscar and Lauren, making them give him the money. To avoid it getting out, Howie persuades Patrick to not press charges against Oscar.^[18]

Meeting Jasmine Fisher

A high-profile story arc for Oscar came in the form of a love interest, Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness). After feeling beaten down due to his friendship with Patrick ending, his spirits are lifted when he meets Jasmine. However, Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), Peter's mother, tries to "scupper his romance".^[19] She warns Jasmine to stay away from Oscar, knowing about his interest in hook-ups and not committing to one partner.^[19] Oscar remains undeterred and pursues Jasmine regardless, eventually taking her out on a date.^[20] After a few weeks, Oscar begins to become suspicious of Jasmine's intentions in Walford and is particularly concerned with her family life.^[21]

Oscar is convinced by Jasmine's manager, Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe), to join her in searching online for details about Jasmine. They find nothing and are caught by Jasmine, who is upset with the pair. She explains that she had a tough upbringing and was not allowed social media until the age of 18, which satisfies Oscar due to his "adoration" of Jasmine.^[22] Jasmine later needs a place to live in Walford and asks Oscar and his family to take her in, who agree.^[23] Jasmine steals Anthony Trueman's (Nicholas Bailey) keys to the Panesar House Surgery, where he works as a doctor. Oscar discovers what she has done, and Jasmine plays it off that she was wanting a quiet place for them to have sex, convincing him to join her. However, once they are there, Oscar is "rattled" when Jasmine quickly gets to logging into the computers and searches for a specific patient record.^[24] It becomes obvious to Oscar that it is not a random stunt, but that Jasmine is calculated and her "mask is slowly starting to slip more and more".^[25]

Oscar finds Cindy unconscious at the bottom of a flight of stairs and rushes to inform his family; he then finds Jasmine packing her bags. She explains that she pushed her, but affirms that it was an accident and her actions were self-defence. Oscar initially believes her, but is convinced by Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) that Jasmine is part of a family from Cindy's past who seek revenge on her. He then ends their relationship since he feels he does not know who Jasmine truly is.^[26]

Reconciling with Max and love triangle

In a press conference, executive producer Ben Wadey stated that he would be putting Oscar and his fellow Brannings at the "heart of the show" as part of their ongoing family revival.^[27] When Max returns to Walford, Oscar's damaged relationship with him is explored. Most of the residents are fairly unhappy to see him; however, Oscar is delighted. Despite this, he soon shares a "devastating exchange" with him.^[28] He learns Max is not sticking around and pleads with him to stay, saying it would mean a lot. Max refuses and Oscar realises Max does not want a relationship with him, leading him to break down in tears at Lauren and Peter's wedding.^[28]

Whilst he is still coming to grips with the end of his and Jasmine's relationship, Max once again returns to Walford, wanting to make amends with Oscar and Lauren. Speaking about Max's relationship with his children, actor Jake Wood acknowledged that Max had been a weak father figure and that he did not blame Oscar and Lauren for wanting to "wash their hands with him".^[29] When Oscar is rushed to hospital for saving Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) from a fire, Max stays by his bedside until he awakens.^[30] Despite Max wanting to repair their bond, he soon lets him down by not meeting him for an arranged drink. Oscar then "feels let down by his dad’s actions".^[31] He gets drunk and later joins his family at the town's community carol concert, where he exposes a secret "that leaves [Max] utterly floored and threatens to ruin the family festivities".^[31] He drunkenly blurts out that Annie Carter (Lois Hawkins) is Max's secret daughter and that the rest of the family were aware.^[31]

Jasmine feels that she does not belong in Walford and convinces Oscar to escape with her.^[32] Cindy warms Max to stop them leaving and Oscar becomes torn between Jasmine and his father, and as "Max and Jasmine's row reaches fever pitch", Jasmine drops a "terrible lie" to blindsight Oscar into leaving with her.^[33] She claims Max kissed her and an angry Max attempts to record her admitting her lies, but she notices the phone and keeps up her lie. The truth is eventually outed and Oscar bids to trust his father again.^[34]

Jasmine flees from Walford alone, but Digital Spy confirmed that Donaldson-Holness was still contracted to return to EastEnders.^[35] In her short break away from the series, it was leaked to the media that Joshua Vaughan had been cast as Jasmine's long-lost twin brother, Josh Goodwin.^[36] It was also leaked to media that EastEnders would be airing a "bisexual love triangle in a steamy new storyline" featuring Oscar, Jasmine and Josh.^[37] It was billed "one of the hottest love triangles in soap history".^[37] The pair meet whilst Jasmine is in prison for the murder of Anthony, who she killed in self-defence. They are unaware of each others' identities and kiss in the Prince Albert, the local gay bar, later having sex.^[15] They are "stunned" to learn the truth about each other and affirm that they will keep their connection a secret.^[38]

Oscar finds evidence that Jasmine killed Anthony in self-defence and meets her in prison, where the two passionately kiss and reconcile their relationship. However, Oscar and Josh have to "fight their sizzling chemistry" when they continue to bump into each other in intimate settings. A producer explained that they were "once totally smitten" and Oscar felt forced to forget about their fling due to his reunion with Jasmine.^[39] They added that "his feelings for Josh have far from disappeared" and that the chemistry they share is "something neither can ignore", but felt they should be careful of Jasmine due to her temper.^[37]