They might be sworn enemies, but there’s no denying the sizzling chemistry between EastEnders’ Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) right now.

The pair shared a festive bunk-up in The Albert on Christmas Day, unaware of each other’s identities – but all hell later broke loose when they came face to face at grandson Jimmy Beale’s christening, with Cindy horrified to learn she’d inadvertently slept with the man responsible for the death of her son Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell) back in 2017.

However, in the Max-centric flashforward episode throwing ahead to the events of New Year’s Day 2027, Cindy was teased as one of four women who Max may be walking down the aisle with.

Well, a lot can change in Walford in 12 months, right?

With that in mind, this week will see the BBC soap beginning to lay the groundwork of a potential romance between them when Cindy looks out for Max as he gets caught in Jasmine Fisher’s (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) web of lies.

Jasmine is planning to do a bunk from Walford with Max’s son Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier), after lying to Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) that she would give a statement to the police that could help exonerate her mum Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) of Anthony Trueman’s (Nicholas Bailey) murder.

However, Max gets wind of Jasmine and Oscar’s intentions and soon collars his son’s girlfriend about it.

When Cindy overhears their row, she is reminded of her own run-ins with Jasmine – one of which, of course, saw Jasmine throw her down a flight of stairs – and warns Max that the teen is far more dangerous than he might think.

But why is Cindy so concerned, unless she’s harbouring feelings for Walford’s most notorious lothario?

However, Max is ultimately undeterred by Cindy’s words, and he and Jasmine take their argument to Oscar at The Vic.

When Oscar finds himself caught in the middle of his girlfriend and dad, scheming Jasmine stuns Max by seriously upping the ante in front of a pub full of punters…

Will Max live to regret not heeding Cindy’s advice?