![\"Max](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/543341-5e8e.jpg\")
\n\t\tMax Branning always causes chaos (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tMax Branning always causes chaos (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n
For someone who has spent a great deal of his life destroying his family members in EastEnders, Max Branning<\/a> (Jake Wood<\/a>) can\u2019t seem to understand why they\u2019re struggling to let him back in.<\/p>\n A few years ago, after being wrongly imprisoned for Lucy Beale<\/a>\u2019s murder, Max returned to Walford and was hellbent on getting revenge on every single person who wronged him. If someone was even remotely suspicious that he might\u2019ve killed Lucy, they went on his list.<\/p>\n This saga resulted in a variety of different horrific events in Albert Square. There was Max working with the Willmott-Browns, his fake relationship with Carmel Kazemi, manipulating Steven Beale into helping him, leaving Jane to die in a fire, strangling Ian Beale<\/a>, and the ordeal that led to Lauren and Abi falling from the Queen Vic roof.<\/p>\n His middle name should be destruction, because it seems this is all Max is known for. When he returns to Walford in the lead up to Christmas<\/a>, Max is determined to show his family that he\u2019s changed \u2013 but he doesn\u2019t do a very good job at it.<\/a><\/p>\n On Christmas Eve, Max\u2019s latest actions make an enemy of himself amongst the Square. He decides to try and put things right with Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier<\/a>), but gets waylaid by Linda (Kellie Bright<\/a>).<\/p>\n \t\t Stood up by his dad, Oscar drowns his sorrows in the pub. Max eventually finds Oscar, but the young man is drunk and ends up revealing a revelation to his dad that threatens to derail the Branning\u2019s Christmas.<\/p>\n The Brannings and Beales prepare to eat Christmas dinner together on the big day. Things get off to a tricky start though as Cindy Beale<\/a> (Michelle Collins) returns, forcing Ian and Peter Beale (Adam Woodyatt and Thomas Law) to spring into action to try and keep her away from Max.<\/p>\n As the dinner begins, it\u2019s clear Max is still brewing over Oscar\u2019s revelation, and it\u2019s not long before chaos ensues when more than one truth sparks fireworks at the table.<\/p>\n With 2026 looming, the Beales and Brannings attempt to put on a brave face to celebrate Jimmy\u2019s christening.<\/p>\n Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Peter\u2019s attention is consumed by the prospect of Cindy and Max meeting for the first time, and they make a mutual decision to uninvite Max due to his behaviour at Christmas.<\/p>\n Later though, Lauren ends up changing her mind as she finds Max upset over not being involved.<\/p>\n \t\t By the time Cindy learns of this, she refuses to attend if Max will be in attendance. There\u2019s no need to worry though, as Max clashes with Jack (Scott Maslen) and ends up uninvited again.<\/p>\n As 2026 dawns, a shocking flashforward episode will provide clues about what the future holds for Max as we find him and his family embroiled in drama on New Year\u2019s Day \u2013 in 2027.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018He\u2019s obviously got history with Linda, who hasn\u2019t told him that Annie is his daughter, and neither has his family, so I\u2019m sure Max would be heartbroken to not only discover he\u2019s been kept in the dark, and away from the chance of being Annie\u2019s dad for the last four years, but that his family have played a part in it all\u2019, actor Jake Wood shared, pondering over what\u2019s ahead for Max.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCan\u2019t wait for the next twist?\t\t\t<\/p>\n Hi, I\u2019m Calli Kitson, Soaps reporter at Metro.\u00a0I cover Emmerdale, EastEnders, Corrie and more.<\/p>\n If you want to stay up to date on the latest spoilers, sign up to\u00a0our daily Soaps Newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t From the big moments to the gossip you can\u2019t miss, it\u2019s all in your inbox every morning.\u00a0Sign up now<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018Then there\u2019s Cindy, who blames Max for her son Steven\u2019s death and his involvement with Lucy, and they\u2019ve never come face-to-face before, so there has to be a showdown between the pair which we will see at Jimmy\u2019s Christening. <\/p>\n \u2018I can\u2019t say much at this stage, but they were great scenes to film. There\u2019s also all the family stuff with Max, Lauren, Oscar and Jack, so there is a lot of unfinished business awaiting him when he returns.<\/p>\n \u2018There\u2019s also lots going on with a lot of other big families in Walford, so it\u2019s a good balance of high drama and chaos across the festive period! Watch this space.\u2019<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Jack](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/543374-dea6.jpg\")
\n\t\tMax argues with someone \u2013 which isn\u2019t new at all (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n![\"Lauren](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/543306-fad3.jpg\")
\n\t\tMax wants to try and make amends (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-08-28-144150-ba9c.png\")
\n\t\tSign up to receive my latest stories (Picture: Calli Kitson)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: All EastEnders cast returns, exits and new arrivals coming up in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Linda\u2019s horror to see Max in EastEnders \u2013 but an unexpected unity brews<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: EastEnders fire horror as two iconic characters are trapped in a deadly blaze<\/a><\/p>\n