Actor Jake Wood has promised that EastEnders fans are in for a seismic shock this festive season as his notorious character, Max Branning, makes a turbulent return to Albert Square. Wood admits he was 'blown away' by the upcoming plot twists, which include a dramatic flashforward to New Year's Day 2027.
Can the Square's Ultimate Villain Find Redemption?
Max Branning is a man with more baggage than King's Cross left luggage. His history of betrayal, affairs, and outright villainy is legendary in Walford. From his betrayal with the Willmott-Browns and leaving Jane for dead, to the traumatic events that led to his daughters falling from the Queen Vic roof, Max's path is littered with chaos.
His brief return earlier in 2025 ended swiftly after Stacey Slater caught him kissing her cousin, Zoe. Yet, as Christmas approaches, Max is back, claiming he's a reformed man. 'He wants to right his previous parenting wrongs with Lauren and Oscar,' explains Jake Wood. 'I do believe that his heart is in the right place.'
However, with a daughter he doesn't know about and Cindy Beale still furious over his role in her son's death, the path to forgiveness is steep. 'Max is busy!' Wood laughs. 'He's got a lot of history with a lot of the residents... there's a mountain of secrets waiting to be exposed.'
A Christmas Dinner Disaster in the Making
The festive period quickly descends into classic Branning drama. Max's attempts to reconnect are derailed, and he soon finds himself persona non grata across the Square. The tension culminates in a planned christening for baby Jimmy, organised by Lauren and Peter Beale.
Cindy flatly refuses to attend if Max is present, but Lauren's soft heart sees her re-invite her father after seeing him upset. True to form, Max clashes with his brother, Jack, and gets uninvited all over again. In a move that surprises absolutely no one, Max ignores everyone's wishes and turns up at the christening anyway, setting the stage for a explosive confrontation.
'Based on their history alone, it's clear that a Christmas dinner between the Beales and the Brannings is not the best idea,' Wood teases, hinting at a drunken revelation from his son Oscar that fuels Max's festive fury.
A Shocking Glimpse into the Future
The drama will not end with the Christmas turkey. As 2026 begins, EastEnders will air a shocking flashforward episode that catapults viewers to New Year's Day 2027. This glimpse into the future shows Max and his family embroiled in yet another major crisis, proving that the repercussions of his return will echo for years to come.
Jake Wood's enthusiasm for the storyline is palpable. He describes a character determined to change but perpetually tripped up by his own nature and the sheer weight of his past misdeeds. The question remains: Will Max Branning ever truly turn over a new leaf, or is he forever destined to be Walford's prime agitator? This Christmas, viewers will get the first tumultuous chapter of his latest attempt.
