{"id":172388,"date":"2025-12-07T18:21:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T18:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/172388\/"},"modified":"2025-12-07T18:21:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T18:21:08","slug":"eastenders-lauren-faces-chaos-in-the-vic-in-maxs-explosive-walford-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/172388\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders&#8217; Lauren faces chaos in The Vic in Max&#8217;s explosive Walford return"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"1\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">EastEnders&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69558338\/eastenders-lauren-makes-dangerous-decision\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69558338\/eastenders-lauren-makes-dangerous-decision\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Lauren Branning\" data-node-id=\"1.2\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Lauren Branning<\/a> is set to face chaos in The Vic, as her dad <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69620812\/eastenders-spoilers-max-branning-return-linda-zoe-oscar\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69620812\/eastenders-spoilers-max-branning-return-linda-zoe-oscar\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Max Branning returns to Walford\" data-node-id=\"1.4\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Max Branning returns to Walford<\/a>. In scenes scheduled to air on Monday, 15 December, the mum-of-two, who is already struggling with the fact that she was scammed by a fake doctor while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69445667\/eastenders-spoilers-lauren-jimmi-treatment\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69445667\/eastenders-spoilers-lauren-jimmi-treatment\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"trying to help her son Jimmy\" data-node-id=\"1.6\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">trying to help her son Jimmy<\/a>, will have a lot on her plate next week. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"4\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Ahead of Max&#8217;s highly anticipated return, Jacqueline Jossa has teased what&#8217;s in store for her character. &#8220;In typical Max Branning style, he reads too much into a situation and makes a scene in The Vic,&#8221; she began. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"6\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;Of course, Max is completely wrong with his judgement, and it causes a situation for Lauren. Max hasn&#8217;t even been back a day, and already he&#8217;s turned her life upside down.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"10\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The misunderstanding in question will occur after Max suspects there&#8217;s something going on between Lauren and her father-in-law, Ian. What he doesn&#8217;t realise, however, is that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69568273\/eastenders-lauren-branning-alliance-scam-aftermath\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69568273\/eastenders-lauren-branning-alliance-scam-aftermath\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Ian is the only one who knows\" data-node-id=\"10.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Ian is the only one who knows<\/a> that Lauren has lost the charity money the Square had raised for Jimmy, and has been trying to help her ever since. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"12\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;The punters are practically spitting out their beer after they hear what Max has to say,&#8221; says our EastEnders source. &#8220;But the twists keep on coming, as further info comes to light, shifting the focus onto Lauren. Suddenly on the back foot, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69622011\/eastenders-spoilers-max-lauren-defence\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69622011\/eastenders-spoilers-max-lauren-defence\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Max finds himself having to leap to his daughter&#039;s aid\" data-node-id=\"12.3\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Max finds himself having to leap to his daughter&#8217;s aid<\/a> as the pub reels from all the revelations.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"lauren branning, eastenders\" title=\"EMBARGOED UNTIL 04\/12\/2025 00:01 Lauren Branning, EastEnders \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3001\" height=\"2000\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lauren-branning-eastenders-692daa2d48e4a.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>BBC<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"15\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a46265799\/best-film-tv-tours-2024\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a46265799\/best-film-tv-tours-2024\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Best film and TV tours for 2025\" data-node-id=\"15.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Best film and TV tours for 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"17\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">It&#8217;s no secret that Lauren and Max have had a strained relationship in recent years, but is there room for redemption? Jossa isn&#8217;t sure, but she&#8217;s eager to find out. &#8220;I think Max holds up a mirror to Lauren, and she sees a lot of herself in him which she is trying to fight against,&#8221; the actor mused.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"19\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;She doesn&#8217;t want to turn into her dad, but they&#8217;re both similar, and tend to leave a path of destruction for their loved ones to navigate. Max is trying to right past mistakes, and he is really trying to show up for Lauren, so I think she would be open to rekindling her relationship with her dad, but it just depends how long it lasts. She&#8217;s been here time and time again with Max, so he&#8217;s got a lot of making up to do.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"lauren branning, eastenders\" title=\"EMBARGOED UNTIL 04\/12\/2025 00:01 Lauren Branning, EastEnders \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2000\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1765131668_722_eastenders-lauren-branning-692daa12329ba.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>BBC<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"22\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69647242\/eastenders-spoilers-anthony-concern-dangerous-secret\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69647242\/eastenders-spoilers-anthony-concern-dangerous-secret\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"EastEnders&#039; Anthony Trueman to spark concern as dangerous secret is revealed\" data-node-id=\"22.1.0\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">EastEnders&#8217; Anthony Trueman to spark concern as dangerous secret is revealed<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"24\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Opening up about what it&#8217;s been like reuniting with her on-screen dad, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69578338\/eastenders-max-branning-return-date-jake-wood\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69578338\/eastenders-max-branning-return-date-jake-wood\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Jake Wood\" data-node-id=\"24.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Jake Wood<\/a>, Jossa added: &#8220;I&#8217;m so excited to have Jake back. It&#8217;s just been brilliant. Ever since I came back, I have been pestering Jake to return. Jake texted me to say he was coming home at the start of the year, and I couldn&#8217;t believe it. I love working with him, and I think there is so much more to explore with Lauren and Max&#8217;s relationship.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"26\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">EastEnders airs on Mondays &#8211; Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"28\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage\" data-node-id=\"28.0.0\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"31\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The new edition of Living Legends, celebrating music icon Dolly Parton, is here! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/special-editions-subscriptions-lvldollyparton\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/special-editions-subscriptions-lvldollyparton\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Buy Dolly at 80 in newsagents or online\" data-node-id=\"31.3\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Buy Dolly at 80 in newsagents or online<\/a>, priced at just \u00a38.99.<br data-node-id=\"31.6\"\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"EastEnders&#8217; Lauren Branning is set to face chaos in The Vic, as her dad Max Branning returns to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":172389,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[2115,111282,2117,156,2116,111,139,69,111281,437],"class_list":{"0":"post-172388","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tv","8":"tag-content-type-news","9":"tag-contentid-f43376df-573a-466c-9777-bc0dcf5e6e3b","10":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-locale-gb","13":"tag-new-zealand","14":"tag-newzealand","15":"tag-nz","16":"tag-shorttitle-eastenders-lauren-faces-chaos-amid-maxs-return","17":"tag-tv"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=172388"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172388\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/172389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=172388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=172388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=172388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}