EastEnders’ Jake Wood on flash-forward secrets and why Max has his eye on Jasmine

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People often make New Year’s resolutions with good intentions, but it’s tough to keep them going for long. A recent storyline on the soap opera EastEnders illustrates this perfectly: a character named Max Branning promised to improve and be a better father in 2026, but a preview showed he’s still causing trouble by the start of 2027.

We’ll reveal how Max keeps finding himself in trouble as we approach New Year’s Day. Even Jake Wood, the actor who plays Max, doesn’t know what’s going to happen to his unpredictable character – so fans will be kept guessing!

EastEnders has used brief glimpses into the future before, like with ‘The Six’ murder mystery which showed a single scene set months ahead. However, this is the first time the show has dedicated a whole episode to a flash-forward, and jumped so far ahead in time.

The project is incredibly ambitious and presents significant practical hurdles, especially since the actors don’t know why their characters are doing what they’re doing. However, Wood commends the team’s dedication to making it succeed. He explains that strong communication and collaboration are key – while the actors are improvising due to a lack of detailed backstory, each department has enough information to contribute to a cohesive narrative. He finds being involved in such a unique undertaking truly remarkable.

Everyone was buzzing about who Max Branning secretly married. Speculation focused on women from his past, like Linda Carter and Cindy Beale, as well as some surprising possibilities, including his sister-in-law, Denise Fox.

Could Dee’s daughter, Chelsea, become involved too? There’s a clear connection forming between her and Max now that he’s back, even though they haven’t known each other long. Whether anything happens between them will likely depend on how their lives intersect in the coming year.

The upcoming wedding in 2027 seems destined for trouble, which might be a signal for Max to reconsider marriage after four previous failed attempts. According to Wood, Max needs a partner to feel stable and secure; he struggles being alone. Despite his past, Max is a naturally hopeful person and capable of being a caring and devoted partner when he’s motivated.

Everyone is watching Max closely, trying to figure out what he might know about the mysterious event we saw in the future. His conflict with Jasmine Fisher, Oscar Branning’s girlfriend, is getting worse, and Max is taking risks to look out for his son.

Jasmine can be manipulative when she sets her mind to something, and she’s planning to take Oscar away from Walford. Max, however, wants to rebuild his relationship with Oscar and doesn’t want him to go. Jasmine falsely accuses Max of wrongdoing, and he’ll have a difficult time convincing Oscar of the truth.

I’m really invested in Max’s story – he’s so focused on fixing his relationship with his kids, and honestly, he’ll do whatever it takes. But it also feels like there are forces working against Jasmine, and she needs to be careful because people are definitely coming for her!

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Max may be flawed, with a history of cheating, dishonesty, and generally acting badly, but that’s part of what makes him such a compelling and complex character on EastEnders. Despite everything, it’s hard not to sympathize with him.

According to actor Wood, who has played the character for two decades, Max is haunted by his past. The trauma he experienced as a child still deeply affects him. He had a challenging relationship with his father, Jim, and is determined to be a better parent to his own children than his father was to him.

He’s remarkably insightful and honest about his flaws, and he truly regrets his mistakes. He believes he can always improve, but his easily distracted nature ultimately holds him back – and that’s what makes his story so sad.

Jake Wood’s natural and believable acting makes audiences sympathize with his character, Max, even when Max doesn’t necessarily deserve it. Wood is captivating on screen, and has been central to some of the soap’s most memorable scenes, including the shocking reveal of Max’s affair with Stacey Slater on Christmas Day in 2007, and Stacey’s confession to Max during EastEnders’ first live episode in 2010.

Like several actors who’ve appeared on the show, Wood first became interested in acting at Anna Scher’s well-known drama club for children in North London, where he was raised. Other stars like Gillian Taylforth, Patsy Palmer, and Natalie Cassidy also got their start there, inspired by the renowned teacher when they were young.

I acted in school plays, like Peter Rabbit and Bugsy Malone, and joined Anna Scher’s theatre school at age 10. It completely changed my life. As Kathy Burke describes in her autobiography, my experience was very similar to that of many other kids who attended. Having someone who truly valued and celebrated you for being yourself, and who allowed you to freely express yourself at a young age, was incredibly empowering.

Anna started the program in the late 1960s mainly to provide a safe place for children and keep them from getting into trouble. Growing up in a council flat in Islington, I – like many others – was given opportunities I wouldn’t have had access to otherwise.

Within a few months of starting to look for acting work, I landed my first TV role. It was a part on the popular 1984 police drama, The Gentle Touch, and I really enjoyed the experience. Everyone on set was kind and made me feel welcome as I began my career.

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Wood steadily worked as an actor for the next two decades, appearing in popular shows like Only Fools and Horses and Red Dwarf. He even tried his hand at stand-up comedy, which he recalls as being incredibly challenging.

He started his acting career with a small part on EastEnders in 1990, playing a homeless teen. Later, he returned to the show for a much more significant role. While he appreciated taking on diverse characters, starting a family ultimately shifted his priorities and career focus.

I accepted the role of Max when my daughter was a year old. I had been traveling for work quite a bit, and it felt like the right time to find something more stable. The Branning family was initially brought on for a three-year deal, which is a longer contract than usual.

Max came back to the neighborhood last fall after being away for five years, and it feels like he never left. Wood says he enjoys being involved and active while he’s there, and he plans to stay busy for at least another year.

Besides acting in EastEnders, Adam Woodyatt enjoys a variety of creative projects. He recently appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice for Children in Need, and he co-hosts a weekly podcast called Wood Wehn in the Membrane with comedian Henning Wehn, where they simply enjoy a casual, funny conversation. Wood is also a talented artist, and recently sold a portrait of a well-known figure to Vinny Jones.

Right now, playing Max Branning is still the actor’s main focus, and he finds it keeps things interesting. He’s captivated by the character, even after playing him for so long, and hopes viewers feel the same way. Max feels incredibly real to him, and he’s never found the role dull – not even after 20 years!

I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have been involved in so many compelling storylines, especially with the recent flash-forward plot. Being a key part of a major story on EastEnders is a fantastic opportunity, and I truly appreciate it.

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2026-01-20 23:36