Max Branning (Jake Wood) in EastEnders wants to prove to his family during the Christmas period that he’s changed, but he does a terrible job at it.

We saw Max for the first time in a few years when Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) returned. A flashback episode saw us discover the two characters met each other at a bar, and then began a relationship. Zoe had no idea who Max was, but he knew exactly who he was getting into bed with.

Max was in Albert Square for a brief period in the autumn, but left after Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) saw him kissing Zoe.

The troublesome character is now back in Walford and, following the news he’ll feature in a flashforward episode as 2026 begins, Max is going to be with us until at least 2027.

‘I think ultimately, he wants to right his previous parenting wrongs with Lauren and Oscar’, Jake Wood said as he discussed why Max is back.

‘When he briefly returned in the Autumn, it was clear that Lauren and Oscar were ready to wash their hands with him, and who can blame them as Max hasn’t been much of a dad in the last five years.

‘Even though Max makes more mistakes than most, I do believe that his heart is in the right place, and so he’s determined to return and put things right with his kids and prove he can step up as their dad.’

Following the exposure of a secret, Max vents his frustrations among his family as Lauren and Jack Branning (Jacqueline Jossa and Scott Maslen) attempt to control the situation.

Vowing to support him, Lauren and Jack believe they’ve talked Max out of acting irrationally.

Which is a case of famous last words, yes.

Ahead of Christmas Day, Max’s actions make an enemy of himself amongst the Square. As he focuses on putting things right with Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier), Max ends up getting distracted by Linda Carter (Kellie Bright). With Max focusing on resolving another one of his feuds, Oscar grabs a drink.

Feeling let down by his dad again, Oscar makes a revelation to Max which threatens to derail the Christmas festivities.

On Christmas Day, the Brannings and the Beales prepare to eat dinner together at Number 45. As guests arrive, it’s clear that Max is still brewing over Oscar’s revelation, and it’s not long before chaos ensues when more than one truth sparks fireworks at the dinner table.

Going well so far then!

As 2026 nears ever closer, the Beales and the Brannings attempt to put on a brave face to celebrate Jimmy’s christening.

With Lauren and Peter Beale (Thomas Law) quite focused on Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) meeting Max for the first time, they decide to uninvite him, fearful he will cause more drama.

However, when Lauren finds her dad visibly upset over not being invited, she changes her mind.

By the time news reaches Cindy, she tells Peter that she won’t be going if Max is. In true Branning fashion though, Jack drops a bombshell on his brother, meaning he gets uninvited again.

Max completely ignores his family’s wishes and turns up to the christening anyways – what could possibly go wrong you ask?

Quite a lot.

Back in the Square, Oscar tries to talk to his dad about his behaviour, but he heads to Harry’s Barn instead to drown his sorrows.

There, another resident tries to guide Max, but he snaps and upsets them in the process.

Having watched the entire sorry affair, Nicola (Laura Doddington) attempts to deliver some home truths to Max.

He then heads out into the night, ready to fix his mistakes.

This will ultimately lead us into a flashforward episode that provides clues about what the future holds for Max in 2026 and 2027. His family will be embroiled in drama on New Year’s Day in 2027, but just what has happened, and why, remains to be revealed over the next 12 months…