BBC Share Add as a preferred source on Google By Laura Morgan 28 Jan 2026, 09:01 By Laura Morgan 28 Jan 2026, 09:01 Max Branning in EastEnders: legendary love rat, bad dad, his scandalous affairs and tragic kids Max Branning and his many, many women Jake Wood Max Branning Share Add as a preferred source on Google By Laura Morgan 28 Jan 2026, 09:01 By Laura Morgan 28 Jan 2026, 09:01 Max Branning is a womanising schemer and rogue, who’s charmed his way into the nation’s hearts and become a true EastEnders icon. Played by the brilliant Jake Wood, the character was introduced to viewers in June 2006 as Jim Branning’s estranged son. From the beginning it was clear Max was going to be trouble. And boy has he been that! Best known for his multiple affairs and explosive family feuds, Max has been central to many of the soap’s biggest storylines. After a four year absence from Walford, Max returned in 2025 when he was revealed to Zoe Slater’s secret lover. He’s now back for good, and ready to shake things up in Albert Square once more. Strap yourselves in for a wild ride as we look back on Max’s EastEnders’ journey so far… Jake Wood has played Max Branning since 2006 (Credit: BBC) Who is Max Branning in EastEnders? The backstory of Maxwell “Max” Branning, is a bit of tumultuous one. A bit like that man himself! Born as the fifth child of Jim and Reenie Branning, Max had an older brother, Derek and three older sister April, Carol and Suzy. Jack is the youngest of the Branning siblings. Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Max’s parents marriage was an unhappy one. Reenie was an alcoholic and Jim was a controlling abuser. When Max was 13, a drunk Reenie fell into a scalding bath and ended up being hospitalised. There was another traumatic incident when Max was locked in a coffin and feared he’d be buried alive. He always believed Jim was behind the sick prank, but later found out it was Derek’s doing. When Max was 18 he married Rachel Branning. The couple became parents to a son, who they named Bradley. Although Max loved being a dad, he ended up having an affair with Bradley’s babysitter Tanya Cross. When she discovered she was pregnant, Max abandoned Rachel and Bradley to be with her. A short while later Tanya gave birth to their daughter, Lauren. Max walked back into Bradley’s life on his sixth birthday, but was shown the door by Rachel. That was the last he saw of his son until Bradley was an adult. Max also turned his back on his birth family. Reenie died of cancer in 1996 before the pair could reconcile. Max continued building a life with Tanya. The couple had a second daughter, Abi, but even this didn’t stop Max straying. After forgiving her husband for numerous flings, Tanya eventually kicked Max out. He decided to go looking for Bradley again and discovered his son was living in Albert Square with Jim. So off to Walford Max went. When did Max Branning first arrive in EastEnders? Max Branning made his EastEnders debut on June 27, 2006. He arrived on the Square in search of son Bradley and learnt he was living at Number 25. Max’s family reunion was anything but happy. Jim was furious to see him, and Bradley refused to forgive his father’s abandonment. That same day, Tanya arrived on the Square looking for Max. She was ready to start divorce proceedings, but Max sweet-talked her into giving him another chance. Wanting a fresh start for his family, Max rented Number 5 and bought Tanya her own beauty salon. Max and Bradley started to make up for lost time, but Max couldn’t hide his disapproval of Bradley’s girlfriend Stacey. He believed his son could do better. Stacey soon fell pregnant and Max talked Bradley into wanting an abortion. The decision destroyed Stacey, and she plotted her revenge. Max and Stacey were caught on camera (Credit: BBC) Max’s affair with Stacey Max has zero self-control when it comes to the opposite sex. He’s had affairs with countless women, including his daughter-in-law, Stacey! Their forbidden fling began in 2006 when Stacey wanted to punish Max for destroying her relationship with Bradley. She decided to make a move on him, and Max couldn’t resist. Their affair had fans hooked as they watched Stacey and Max, aka Stax, romp their way around the Square. Things got complicated when Max discovered Tanya was pregnant (with Oscar). He tried to keep the news from Stacey but she found out and threatened to tell Tanya everything. In a fit of panic, Max managed to persuade his family to Spain in the space of one episode. He returned weeks later to find Stacey was back together with Brady, and engaged. Max tried to win Stacey back, but she wasn’t interested. They shared one final kiss on her and Bradley’s wedding day, which was caught on a hidden camcorder. When Lauren later discovered the footage she decided to get her revenge. Max and Stacey’s affair was revealed on Christmas Day 2007 (Credit: BBC) The 2007 Christmas big reveal The moment where Max and Stacey’s affair was revealed has gone down in EastEnders’ history. It was Christmas Day 2007 and the Branning and Slater families were gathered for the celebrations. Under the tree was a parcel addressed to Bradley – and inside was the DVD of Bradley and Stacey’s wedding, capturing her kiss with Max. Intrigued by the mystery gift (which was sent by Lauren), Bradley played the disc in front of everyone. Max, being Max, tried to gaslight Tanya and Bradley into thinking it was all a hoax. But Stacey’s guilty face couldn’t lie. An epic fight ensued, which resulted in Tanya tumbling down the stairs. Max was then shown the door. There have been lots of dark periods in Max’s life (Credit: BBC) EastEnders: Max Branning gets buried alive – again! Tanya quickly filed for divorce from Max and went on the rebound with Sean Slater. The lovers then plotted to bury Max alive in the woods! After drugging Max, Sean and Tanya dragged his unconscious body into a van and drove him to nearby woodland. He was shut in a coffin, which was then buried six feet under. Over 600 shocked people complained about the nature of the pre-watershed episodes, but the BBC defended the storyline. For a while it looked as if Tanya was going to leave Max down there to die. But in the end she decided she couldn’t go through with the plan. She dug the coffin up, and rescued her ex just as he was about to run out of oxygen. The controversial plot saw Max being drugged, then placed in a coffin by his vengeful wife. Over 600 people complained about the pre-watershed episodes, which forced the BBC to defend their decision to broadcast the storyline. Vanessa’s meltdown over Max’s betrayal was EastEnders’ gold (Credit: BBC) Max’s many other women During his years in Walford, Max has been married four times and had loads more lovers. His first on-screen mistress was Gemma Clewes (played by Emmerdale’s Natalie J Robb aka Moira Dingle). Max eventually got bored of Gemma and went back to Tanya, so she decided to stalk him! Max had an icky fling with Stacey’s mate Becca Swanson, who seduced him by lying naked on his kitchen table covered in fruit! Businesswoman Vanessa Gold was the next notch on Max’s bedpost. The pair got it on after Vanessa bought a motor from Max. They got engaged, but Max was still sleeping with Tanya. Vanessa discovered the pair’s secret love nest, which led to that famous “Bubbly’s in the fridge” meltdown. On Christmas Day 2012, a woman called Kirsty rocked up in Walford claiming she was Max’s secret wife. It turned out they’d got married in Manchester, but the union didn’t last. Max also got married to his former sister-in-law Rainie Cross, but more on that later! His other conquests include Karin Smart (played by Denise Van Outen), Carmel Kazemi, Fi Browning and Ruby Allen. Max watched Bradley fall to his death (Credit: BBC) Bradley’s death in the EastEnders live Bradley eventually forgave Max for sleeping with Stacey and the pair decided to go into business together. They rented the car lot from Roxy Mitchell and renamed it Branning and Son. Sadly the reunion didn’t last long. On Christmas Day 2009, Queen Vic landlord Archie Mitchell was found murdered. It soon transpired Bradley had attacked him for raping Stacey. Max wanted to confess to ‘killing’ Archie to protect Bradley, but decided to help his son flee the Square. Their getaway was foiled by the police and Bradley died after falling from the roof of the Queen Vic trying to escape. The scenes were part of EastEnders’ ambitious live episode to mark the 25th anniversary. Moments after Bradley’s death, Stacey confessed to Max that she’d murdered Archie. The former lovers then made a pact to protect her killer secret. Max Branning gets arrested for murder in EastEnders In 2014, Max had a scandalous fling with his daughter Lauren’s best mate, Lucy Beale. She was only 20 at the time and Max was old enough to know better. Weeks later, Lucy was discovered dead in the local woods. A murder investigation was launched, headed up by DC Emma Summerhayes. Max might have been a suspect, but that didn’t stop Emma sleeping with him. The couple were together until January 2015 when Emma was killed by Roxy Mitchell’s runaway car. Max was arrested for Lucy’s murder after the police found a pair of his shoes with her blood on them. He stood trial, got found guilty and sentenced to 21 years in prison. Max was later released after Lucy’s brother Bobby confessed to her murder. Post-prison, Max also became involved with convicted rapist James Willmott-Brown and his plan to demolish Albert Square and replace it with luxury tower blocks. Max was seduced by Wilmott-Brown’s daughter Sophie – aka Fi – and agreed to act as an informant for the family. Max fell hard for Fi. He proposed in the middle of the Vic, only to discover she’d been using him. Max took the betrayal badly and entered a dark period of self-harm. The Brannings are an iconic EastEnders family (Credit: BBC) Losing Abi Life dealt Max another cruel blow in 2018 when his daughter Abi died, in the same way Bradley had eight years earlier. In the months leading up to Abi’s death, Max was spiraling. He was out for revenge on the Beale family over Lucy’s murder and tried to recruit Ian’s stepson Steven into his mission. During this time Max also learnt that Abi was pregnant with Steven’s baby. Steven set fire to the family restaurant, but refused Max’s order to murder Jane. A fight broke out between the two men and Max shoved Steven against a countertop. He later died from his injuries. Abi told everyone in the Square that Max had killed Steven. This pushed him to the brink and he climbed onto the roof of the Vic, intending to jump. Lauren and Abi rushed to stop him, but Lauren lost her footing and the sisters went tumbling over the edge. By some miracle Lauren survived, but pregnant Abi was declared brainstem dead. Her baby daughter was delivered via c-section, before Max, Tanya and Lauren turned off Abi’s life support. Max named Abi’s daughter after her mum, and married his former sister-in-law Rainie Cross so they could raise the child together. It started out as a marriage of convenience, but Max and Rainie developed genuine feelings for one another. However, like all of Max’s relationships, it eventually collapsed. Max and Linda had a brief romance (Credit: BBC) Max’s relationship with Linda Max was at it again in 2020 when he had an affair with landlady Linda Carter. She fell for his charms after her marriage to Mick crumbled due to her alcoholism. The couple made plans to move to New Zealand to live with Lauren. But Linda realised she still loved Mick and couldn’t go. Max was heartbroken by the rejection, but realised there was nothing left for him in Walford any more. He initially wanted to take Abi Jr with him, but ultimately decided to leave her in the care of Rainie and her partner Stuart Highway. Following Max’s departure, Linda gave birth to their daughter, Annie. Max still has no clue about Annie’s existence, but soap secrets don’t stay buried forever. Meanwhile, Max’s fresh start in New Zealand didn’t last long when Lauren caught him in bed with her best friend. Disgusted by his antics, Lauren disowned her dad and Max returned to the UK. Max was revealed as Zoe Slater’s lover (Credit: BBC) Max Branning and his dramatic return to EastEnders After four years away from the Square, Max made a dramatic return in September 2025. Fans were shocked when Max was revealed to be Zoe Slater’s secret lover. Flashback scenes revealed the pair had a steamy affair after meeting in a bar and bonding over their chequered pasts. Max agreed to help Zoe find her son, but things ended badly. Weeks later, Max turned up in Walford in the middle of Lauren’s wedding to Peter Beale. He and Zoe shared a kiss, before he confessed his love for former flame Stacey. Oscar also tried to bond with Max, but as usual he was too wrapped up in himself to care. In the end, Lauren showed her selfish dad the door, telling him not to bother coming back. Bur that wasn’t the last fans saw of Max. He returned for good in December, setting up what promises to be an explosive 2026. It’s going to be a busy year for Max (Credit: BBC) New Year’s Day flashforward On New Year’s Day, EastEnders aired a special flashforward set exactly one year in the future. In this episode the soap dropped a number of massive Max Branning-shaped bombshells. First off, Max was engaged to be married! And he was sharing a bed with a mystery pregnant woman… a pregnant woman who wasn’t his future bride! As the episode progressed, the police then arrested him for solicitation to murder. No sooner was he back out on the street than he was hit with another terrifying development. A mystery gunman was holding Lauren and Oscar hostage! Jake Wood is one of EastEnders’ finest actors (Credit: ITV) Who plays Max Branning in EastEnders? Max Branning is played by London-born actor Jake Wood. He’s been acting on stage and screen since the mid 80s, but EastEnders was his big break. Jake’s other TV credits include appearances in legendary BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses and Red Dwarf. And fans in the US also know him as the voice of the GEICO gecko, in a string of adverts for insurance company GEICO. In 2014 he was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing alongside professional dancer Janette Manrara. The pair’s salsa to Mambo No5 is still considered one of the best in the show’s history. Off-screen, Jake is happily married to wife Alison. The couple live in Hertfordshire and have two children, Amber and Buster. Jake is also a huge boxing fan, and has co-hosted a podcast on the sport with Spencer Oliver called Pound for Pound. Read more: 7 theories for who Max will hook up with when he returns to Walford Share Add as a preferred source on Google Good to Know Share Add as a preferred source on Google By Laura Morgan 28 Jan 2026, 09:01 By Laura Morgan 28 Jan 2026, 09:01 Previous Story Next Story
