EastEnders icon Jake Wood reveals who he really thinks Max Branning’s true love is

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Jake Wood, known for playing Max Branning on EastEnders, has shared his opinion on who Max’s one true love really is.

The popular BBC One soap opera brought back a beloved character this year, following his departure in 2021, and he quickly becomes involved in a new, dramatic storyline.

Max has a complicated romantic history, with four previous marriages to Rachel Branning, Tanya Cross, Kirsty Branning, and Rainie Cross, and a reputation for having many relationships. An upcoming episode will show him getting married again in 2027, and also reveal he’s woken up next to a pregnant woman whose identity is currently unknown!

Max Branning has a history with several women who are currently living in Albert Square, including Linda Carter, Zoe Slater, and Cindy Beale, giving him plenty of romantic possibilities.

Jake Wood shared his interpretation of what Max Branning might really say if asked directly, focusing on his relationships with two important women: his second wife and mother of three of his children, Tanya Cross (played by Jo Joyner), and his former lover and daughter-in-law, Stacey Slater (played by Lacey Turner).

It’s clear Tanya is deeply affected, and I suspect Stacey is too. We saw hints of this when Max returned a few months ago. They still have a very strong bond and really get each other. No matter where life takes them, I think they’ll always share that connection. If you were to ask Max, he’d likely say the same about Stacey.

It looks like Stacey might be the one Max truly loves, but Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey, is currently not appearing on the show. Stacey’s character has also moved to Brazil with her brother, Sean.

Will we see Stacey in a future scene set in 2027, two decades after the start of their affair? You’ll have to keep watching to find out!

When asked about Max’s recent affair with Zoe at a press event, Wood expressed her enthusiasm for the storyline. She felt it was exciting to imagine a past relationship between the two characters, especially given Zoe’s established presence on the show.

Having Max return opens up a lot of interesting story possibilities. I thought he and the other character had great chemistry and a believable connection – it felt natural that they’d met through mutual friends, and that her search for her daughter would particularly affect Max, considering his own difficult past with children.

Whether Max and Zoe stay connected also remains to be seen.

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Lewis KnightNews and Trends Editor

Lewis heads up news and trending content at TopMob, making sure we cover what our audience wants and needs. He’s a huge TV and movie buff, especially a fan of Nicole Kidman, but also loves science fiction, independent films, and the newest shows on HBO. With a background in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Film Studies, Lewis previously worked in advertising before spending three years at The Mirror, where he focused on community engagement, SEO, and reporting on showbiz, film, and television.

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2025-12-29 00:36