BBC Share Add as a preferred source on Google By Claire Crick 11 Feb 2026, 12:02 By Claire Crick 11 Feb 2026, 12:02 EastEnders airs Max and Linda kiss in early iPlayer release, but fans aren't happy about what comes next Is this really a romance set to last? Linda Carter Max Branning Share Add as a preferred source on Google By Claire Crick 11 Feb 2026, 12:02 By Claire Crick 11 Feb 2026, 12:02 WARNING: This article is full of spoilers for today’s episode of EastEnders, which is streaming on BBC iPlayer now, but has not yet aired on BBC One – in which Max and Linda kiss. Max Branning and Linda Carter get closer in today’s EastEnders, but while they might be feeling the love ahead of Valentine’s Day, not everyone is happy for them. Desperate to protect Linda from more heartache in her life, Elaine warns Max away from her daughter once again. Max doesn’t take kindly to being told what to do – letting Elaine know that Linda is old enough to make her own decisions. But it isn’t only Elaine who doesn’t like the idea of Linda and Max getting closer. Bea is also hovering around in today’s episode, ready to stir up trouble wherever someone else finds a bit of joy. Bea takes offence at something Linda says (Credit: BBC) Bea causes more drama At breakfast, Bea is acting even more strangely than usual at Peaocock Palace. She asks Max about whether he has a date for Valentine’s Day, but he is quick to dismiss it as commercial rubbish. Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers When she doesn’t get a rise out of Max, Bea starts on Linda. She tells her that she wouldn’t bring a man back to the B&B even if she met one because of the garish decor. Linda takes offence at Bea being rude about how the B&B is decorated, and Bea uses this to her advantage. Getting the wrong end of the stick on purpose, she makes out that Linda is throwing her out and goes to pack her bags. Baffled by what just happened, Linda feels bad. But Max tells her it was Bea being Bea, and she’s done nothing wrong. It’s only later, when Max hears Bea badmouthing Linda to Honey, telling her that she’s been thrown out of the B&B, that Max has a word. But Bea can see that Max is falling for Linda, and uses this to her advantage. Bea causes trouble for Max… again! (Credit: BBC) Max hides secrets from Linda in EastEnders Later, Linda is upset when she gets another call from Ollie’s school, telling her that he has been hit. She rushes to collect him, and while Max knows this is Louie’s doing, he keeps quiet. Instead, he heads over to see Lauren and Peter. He tells them their son is a bully and they need to have a word. They don’t believe him at first, but later Louie all but admits it, and they’re appalled. Louie confesses he is jealous of the attention little Jimmy is getting. But Lauren tells her son he needs to take responsibility for his actions and apologise to Ollie. However, Max doesn’t want Linda to know that it is his grandson bullying Ollie, so he tells Lauren to keep it between them. She realises this is because he doesn’t want to jeopardise things with Linda, but Bea overhears the whole exchange, now armed with the truth. Max and Linda share a kiss (Credit: BBC) EastEnders: Max and Linda kiss Knowing Ollie needs cheering up, Max gets his superhero costume that Mick bought for him framed, and Ollie is thrilled. Linda is also clearly touched and thanks Max for being so thoughtful. Later, she offers to cook him dinner as a thank you, and they have a heart-to-heart about how hard Linda is finding solo parenting. Max tells her he will always be there for Annie, and that he is very fond of little Ollie, and Linda’s heart melts. Soon, she is leaning in for a kiss. But with Bea like a sticking timebomb, it is only a matter of time before things blow up for Max. Fans react to Max and Linda’s kiss Despite Linda deserving some romance in her life, fans aren’t sure that Max is the right man for her. Especially as he is still not being entirely honest with her… “Max and Linda are something I didn’t want,” said one fan on Reddit. Another added: “Max, as usual, puts his own wants and needs before his family. Still the same old selfish Max. As for him and Linda. It’s a no from me.” Someone on X agreed: “Max and Linda have always worked better as platonic friends because they share each other’s trauma. Never seen them romantically.” Read more: Who’s leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders? Complete list of cast exits, arrivals and returns. Share Add as a preferred source on Google Good to Know Share Add as a preferred source on Google By Claire Crick 11 Feb 2026, 12:02 By Claire Crick 11 Feb 2026, 12:02 Next Story
