![\"Max](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_285837577-8ace.jpg\")
\n\t\tMax Branning has antagonised not one but two supposed love interests (Picture: BBC\/ Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tMax Branning has antagonised not one but two supposed love interests (Picture: BBC\/ Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
Max Branning<\/a> (Jake Wood<\/a>) wouldn\u2019t be Max Branning if he didn\u2019t offend at least one EastEnders<\/a> character a week with his lying, cheating and scandalous ways. <\/p>\n The serial philanderer has something of a penchant for putting his foot in it at the most inopportune of moments and usually when he\u2019s on the cusp of romance with someone he claims to be \u2018the one\u2019. <\/p>\n In Max\u2019s case, this is something of a regular occurrence, having had several love interests over the years who he thought to be his one true love. <\/p>\n Despite claims of having turned over a new leaf, the lothario will be up to his old tricks again in the year ahead, with a flashforward episode <\/a>confirming that he\u2019s getting married on New Year\u2019s Day 2027 \u2013 all the while having a pregnant woman sleeping in his bed.<\/p>\n The identity of the bride is thus far unknown, though\u00a0Linda Carter<\/a>\u00a0(Kellie Bright<\/a>),\u00a0Cindy Beale<\/a>\u00a0(Michelle Collins<\/a>),\u00a0Chelsea Fox<\/a>\u00a0(Zaraah Abrahams<\/a>) and\u00a0Denise Fox<\/a>\u00a0(Diane Parish<\/a>)\u00a0were showcased as possibilities. <\/p>\n If we\u2019re going by what\u2019s on screen at the minute, Linda feels like the obvious choice given that Max just days ago branded her \u2013 wait for it \u2013 \u2018the one\u2019.<\/p>\n As viewers will remember, Max had an affair with Linda six years ago<\/a> when she feared her marriage to soulmate Mick<\/a> (Danny Dyer<\/a>) was on the rocks. At the time, L unaware that Mick had just discovered he\u2019d been abused at 12.<\/p>\n \t\t When she found out what he was going through, she swiftly discarded Max, who proceeded to declare his in love with her, claiming that what she had with him was more real than her decades-long relationship with Mick. <\/p>\n Linda didn\u2019t agree and branded him the \u2018biggest mistake\u2019<\/a> she\u2019d ever made, reuniting with her one true love instead<\/a>. <\/p>\n But with half a decade of grief under her belt since following the loss of Mick<\/a> and her role in a murder, Linda was willing to give Max a shot<\/a> but, in typical Max fashion, he mucked it all up when he kept shtum about the identity of her son Ollie\u2019s (Harry Farr) bully.<\/p>\n It was a betrayal Linda couldn\u2019t see a way back from as she reiterated that nothing romantic will ever transpire <\/a>between the two, which has seemingly ruled her out as the bride come January 1<\/a>. <\/p>\n The former pub landlady wasn\u2019t the only potential love interest Max offended during the week in question either, as he became aggressive with Cindy when he discovered that she\u2019d nicked Jasmine Fisher\u2019s (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) phone from his room<\/a>. <\/p>\n \t\t \t\t\t\tDon’t miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source\t\t\t<\/p>\n As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> and tick\u00a0Metro.co.uk\u00a0to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.<\/p>\n \t\t Cindy, as fans will recall, despised Max before she even met him given the role he played in the demise of her son Steven (Aaron Sidwell) \u2013 which made things pretty awkward when she realised that she had unknowingly slept with him at Christmas<\/a>!<\/p>\n The chemistry between the two troublemakers was palpable and the prospect of all the mayhem they could cause together made Cindy the best option of the four Walford women. <\/p>\n But despite the fact that the foes somehow managed to put the past behind them and move on, Max\u2019s behaviour during Thursday\u2019s (February 19) episode has opened Cindy\u2019s eyes once more to the type of man that he is, thus seemingly severing the chances of her becoming the next Mrs Branning. <\/p>\n \t\t But if not Cindy and Linda, will Denise or Chelsea walk down the aisle to wed Max? <\/p>\n Former mainstay Libby Fox (Belinda Owusu) stages an unexpected comeback on January 1 \u2013 which implies a family-related event on the day in question \u2013 so is she there to see her mum or sister marry Max, or is her return simply a red herring to make us think such a thing?<\/p>\n There is plenty of time left so perhaps Linda and Cindy will find themselves back in the mix? Or perhaps another character entirely (*cough* Stacey Slater *cough*<\/a>) will be added to the line-up of potential future brides? <\/p>\n One thing is for sure: There will be plenty of twists and turns to keep us guessing into the festive season and beyond! <\/p>\n EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on\u00a0BBC\u00a0One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us\u00a0soaps@metro.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Join the community by leaving a comment below and\u00a0stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Max](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/550364-1595.jpg\")
\n\t\tLinda is fed up of being messed around and lied to by Max (Picture: BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n![\"Max](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/543342-ffcd.jpg\")
\n\t\tCindy has seen Max\u2019s true colours (Picture: BBC\/Jack Barns\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n![\"Soaps](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771591393_383_SEI_278522320-46a3.jpg\")
\n\t\tNow you can ensure you never miss a story from the Soaps team<\/p>\n![\"TX](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SEI_284708768-7c4c.jpg\")
\n\t\tWho will Max marry? (Picture: BBC\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: EastEnders fans \u2018work out\u2019 identity of one of Max\u2019s flash-forward love interests \u2013 and it\u2019s a shocker<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: EastEnders\u2019 Linda smashes Max\u2019s hopes into smithereens and he\u2019s gutted<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Max and Linda reunion \u2018sealed\u2019 in EastEnders as Max makes a surprise declaration<\/a><\/p>\n