EastEnders legend teases “dangerous” dynamic between Max Branning and Cindy Beale

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Michelle Collins, who plays a character on EastEnders, has hinted at some potentially dramatic and risky developments in the relationship between Max Branning and Cindy Beale in future episodes.

Viewers know Max will be getting married before the year is out, as a future scene set on New Year’s Day 2027 was shown earlier this year.

Their potential relationship got off to a rocky start when a Christmas Day encounter revealed he was the source of problems with her kids. They initially connected physically, but she soon discovered his history with her children, halting any further romance.

Max has a history of bad behavior, including a relationship with Cindy Beale’s daughter, Lucy, and Cindy holds him responsible for the death of her son, Steven, which occurred in 2017.

Despite facing challenges like a car accident and some complicated situations, their strong feelings for each other continued to grow. They kept their relationship a secret until just last month, when they finally shared the news with their families.

Looking ahead, are things really what they appear to be with this couple, given their history of infidelity and manipulation?

So, I was chatting with Collins on the BAFTA red carpet last night, and he dropped a little hint about what he’s hoping for with Max and Cindy’s characters. Basically, he thinks a lot of viewers feel like they get each other, and he’s leaning into that dynamic. It sounds like what he wants might surprise people, but he acknowledges the audience has a strong feeling about those two.

At first, I wasn’t sure about them, but now I think they’re a really good pair, and it seems like everyone else agrees! They’re being called ‘#Mindy’ by fans.

She continued, saying it feels like they’re competing at each other’s strengths. Since both of them are a little unpredictable, she’s not sure how things will turn out, but she’s optimistic. She especially enjoys working with Jake Wood, calling him fantastic and describing the situation as exciting.

It’s always good to welcome someone new to the team, and it’s especially refreshing to have a fresh perspective, even though this person has worked with us before. I’m really enjoying having them here.

EastEnders won the Best Soap award at the BAFTA TV Awards this Sunday. Representing the show were actors Collins, Jessie Wallace (Kat Moon), Diane Parish (Denise), and Aaron Thiara (Ravi Gulati).

Chris Clenshaw, a previous executive producer, and Ben Wadey, the current executive producer, also came on stage to participate.

Don’t miss EastEnders! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

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Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she focused on reality TV and celebrity news. She has a journalism degree.

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Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a TV journalist who writes about a wide variety of shows, from popular reality series like Love Is Blind to science fiction hits like Fallout. She’s a highly qualified journalist, holding NCTJ Gold Standard accreditation, and has experience working as a deputy editor at both Digital Spy and Daily Express US.

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2026-05-11 12:04