6 Must-See Storylines for Max Branning’s Dramatic EastEnders Comeback!

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It’s being whispered that Max Branning might return to Walford, as some newspapers suggest that the actor, Jake Wood, will once again take on his iconic character from EastEnders.

The problematic figure was known for a complex past in Albert Square, engaging in multiple romantic entanglements, most notably with Stacey Slater (played by Lacey Turner), who was married to his son Bradley (Charlie Clements) at the time.

Max had a complex, on-again, off-again relationship with his second spouse, Tanya (played by Jo Joyner). He experienced the heartbreaking loss of Bradley and his daughter Abi (portrayed by Lorna Fitzgerald), and eventually became the guardian of a baby girl named after Abi.

After an ill-fated affair with Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Max departed for New Zealand in 2021.

If he returns home, Max will have a lot to do to stay busy. However, it’s the immediate issues we need to address for Max that we should focus on now. Here’s where we delve deeper…

6 things we need to see for Max Branning’s return to EastEnders

1. Introduce him to daughter Annie Carter

Linda discovered her pregnancy following Max’s departure, with Jack Branning (played by Scott Maslen) being the one who later welcomed baby Annie into the world.

At first, Annie was being brought up by her stepfather, Mick Carter (Danny Dyer), with the understanding that he would be her father figure. However, it didn’t take long for Jack to realize that Max was actually the child’s biological father.

Initially, Jack decided to keep Max uninformed, and upon Lauren Branning’s (Jacqueline Jossa) return to Walford, she had a friendly initial encounter with her younger half-sister. She too chose to maintain Max’s ignorance about the situation.

However, upon seeing Annie, it’s inevitable that Max will recognize her as his daughter. Once he returns, there’s no avoiding this truth. So, what reaction can we expect from him?

Will Max barge into the Carters’ life and order Linda to give him access to Annie?

Either way, Max’s discovery has to be inevitable.

2. Showdown with Cindy Beale – and more?

Cindy has created a challenging situation for the future daughter-in-law, Lauren. By threatening her with secrets and ultimately leading to Lauren’s dependence on painkillers.

Despite a momentary truce during Cindy’s assistance in Lauren’s childbirth, Lauren has distanced herself from Cindy significantly since then, and Cindy feels resentful towards Lauren due to the role she believes Lauren played in Peter Beale (Thomas Law) choosing to cut off ties with her.

It’s possible that Max might find himself in conflict with Cindy regarding how she treats Lauren, however, it should be noted that Max and Cindy share some striking similarities.

Beyond their shared granddaughter Abi Junior, played by Aaron Sidwell (who was once Steven Beale), Cindy and Max have a history of repeatedly engaging in extramarital affairs and devising plots.

Apart from having a granddaughter named Abi Junior, who used to be played by Aaron Sidwell when he was Steven Beale, both Cindy and Max are known for being unfaithful in their relationships and coming up with schemes.

Presently, it’s unclear if they are a real-life pair, but there’s definitely potential for intense emotions to surface between Max and Cindy, perhaps even in the middle of an argument!

3. Walk eldest daughter Lauren Branning down the aisle

In the forthcoming weeks, Lauren and Peter will find themselves dealing with a significant challenge, as they work through a major medical diagnosis for their newborn child, Jimmy.

But if the Branning-Beale wedding goes ahead, Max should be there to walk Lauren down the aisle.

If Max manages to get there at the right moment, it will be wonderful if he can express his backing, share special moments with his daughter, and grandchildren, all while emphasizing the true essence of their togetherness.

Currently, poor Lauren finds herself surrounded by the Beales. It would be beneficial now for support to come from Lauren’s relatives as well.

Which brings us to our next point…

4. Build up the Branning clan

Despite numerous Brannings existing, including Jack, Lauren, Penny (Kitty Castledine), among others, the family seems more scattered and less close-knit following the departure of Max’s nieces, Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) and Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer).

As I step into Dot’s house, formerly owned by the legendary June Brown, I can’t help but feel a sense of continuity as Lauren and Peter now call this place home. It’s time to add more Branning charm to these walls!

Perhaps Max’s arrival could provide the necessary boost for Jack’s thoughts; Jack has generally been the level-headed one compared to Max, but in Max’s absence, he seems to lack stability. It would be great if Max could rejoin us to unite everyone again.

5. Reflect on his messy history and catch up on local gossip

As a cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but feel that if Stacey departs this year without Max and her ever meeting, we might just miss out on an unforgettable cinematic moment.

We’re not promoting a new ‘Stax’ scenario version 3.0, but rather our appreciation for the deep friendship between Max and Stacey, which remains strong even without a romantic connection – they share a genuine warmth.

It’s a good idea to incorporate interactions between Max and past adversaries such as Phil Mitchell, portrayed by Steve McFadden, and Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt. Since Max and Ian are soon to become in-laws, their relationship dynamics could make for an engaging spectacle on screen.

As a movie buff, if Max hasn’t handed Abi Junior over to her aunt Rainie Highway (Tanya Franks), it’s quite possible that we might witness her brother-in-law, Callum Highway (Tony Clay), desiring a chat with Max.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but feel like I’ve missed out. It seems Max needs to dive back into his history, and there’s a twist: Jack was involved with Stacey too!

We want to see Max interacting with the locals and getting all the lowdown.

6. Learn from (some of) his mistakes

We don’t expect Max to undergo a complete transformation – just ask him to keep his hands off other couples.

In New Zealand, I found myself in an unexpected situation when Max was discovered with my closest friend. Perhaps it’s time for Max to cool things down a bit and temporarily step back from his flirtatious lifestyle.

After experiencing some genuine romantic connections during his initial period, it seems plausible that Max could fully commit to a relationship. Perhaps it’s time for him to find a serious partnership, or maybe he should abstain from relationships for a while instead.

As someone who has followed Max, I must admit that it’s only natural for him to revert back to his old habits at some point, given that a character who never changes can become monotonous. However, for the moment, I’m looking forward to seeing a different side of Max – a breath of fresh air in his life.

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2025-05-20 13:04