EastEnders favourite confirms he has "no plans" to return despite open door
Jake Wood has told fans not to expect a return for Max any time soon.
When it comes to former EastEnders characters, few loom quite as large as Max Branning, the fan favourite played by Jake Wood on and off between 2006 and 2021.
It's been over three years since Max was last seen on screen, when he left Walford and relocated to Croatia, following the end of his affair with Linda Carter. However, with his daughter Lauren, played by Jacqueline Jossa, having returned to the square last year, some had wondered whether Wood would be making a return too.
Unfortunately, it seems not, as speaking with Kate Garraway and Ed Balls on Good Morning Britain today (8th April 2024), Wood said he's got "no plans to go back".
Wood was first asked by Balls whether he thought Arsenal winning the Premier League or Max being seen back on EastEnders was more likely, to which he said: "Well, if you ask me which one I'd prefer, I'd prefer Arsenal to win the league. Most likely? I hope Arsenal."
At the time of writing, Arsenal are top of the Premier League so it's not the longest shot in the world...
He then followed up on this, adding: "I've got no plans to go back. They've kept the door open at EastEnders. It's been three and a half years, I think, since I've not been there. So yeah, it's been a while. Listen, never say never."
Read more:
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Earlier this year, Lacey Turner's character Stacey Slater, who previously had an affair with Max, embarked on a new affair with his brother Jack, played by Scott Maslen.
Meanwhile, Jack later ended up becoming an accomplice to The Six, as he discovered the truth about Linda Carter killing Keanu Taylor, and helped them to conceal the crime.
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Things appear to be heating up for The Six and the net closing in, after Christmas Day's bombshell reveal following almost a year of guesswork on the part of fans surrounding the storyline.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you're looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
