BBC Share By Kerry Barrett Sep 6 2025 By Kerry Barrett Sep 6 2025 Expect 'fireworks' when Max and Cindy come face to face, says EastEnders boss Ben Wadey But will it be romance for Max and Cindy, or will for Cindy be out for revenge after Max caused the death of her son, Steven? Cindy Beale Max Branning Share By Kerry Barrett Sep 6 2025 By Kerry Barrett Sep 6 2025 Max Branning is on his way back to EastEnders after five years away – meaning the meeting of him and Cindy Beale is now inevitable. A lot has happened since he’s been gone. But probably the most shocking was the return of Cindy Beale, who turned out to be very much alive. And the fact that Max and Cindy are about to come face to face means there’s big drama in store! At least according to new EastEnders boss Ben Wadey. “You’ll want popcorn,” he teased when asked what could happen when the two meet for the first time. “I think there would be fireworks!” Max is Walford’s biggest womaniser but could he meet his match in Cindy?! (Credit: BBC) Max and Cindy on EastEnders – potential romance? So, when he says “fireworks” what exactly does he mean? Because correct us if we’re wrong, but the pair have a lot in common! They’ve both had so many affairs there are barely any Albert Square residents they’ve not hooked up with. Could there be a potential romance there?! It would be messy, there’s no doubt. But we’d love to see it! Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Plus, as Ben said, “there’s a lot of Branning/Beale history”. And that could spell disaster. We thought it was time to take a look at that history. Here’s the lowdown on Max and Cindy. Cindy blames Max for Steven’s death (Credit: BBC) The history of Max and Cindy on EastEnders Max came to Walford many years after Cindy’s ‘death’ in prison, so the pair have never met. But there’s a big dark cloud hanging over both of them, in the shape of Cindy’s son Steven Beale. He died back in 2017, in the aftermath of Max being wrongly sent to jail for killing Lucy Beale. Max was released from prison and tried to pick up the remains of his life – but his quest for revenge on the people who’d done him wrong kept growing. Meanwhile, Steven was in a relationship with Lauren Branning – Max’s daughter – but cheating on her with her sister, Abi. When the truth came out, Steven pretended to have a brain tumour to stop Lauren leaving him. The whole thing was totally toxic and it was only going to get worse! Abi got pregnant, and she and Steven worked together to keep his brain-tumour lie going. Cindy’s just one of Max’s many enemies in Walford (Credit: BBC/Composite: EI) Max wanted revenge While all this was going on, Max was out for vengeance on Jane Beale. She’d covered up the fact that Bobby was the one who’d killed Lucy, and Max wanted her to pay. He blackmailed Steven into setting fire to the restaurant, in order to kill Jane. But Steven was the one who was hurt in the fire. He suffered a cardiac arrest in hospital after trying to rescue Jane. “Cindy blames Max for the death of her son,” Ben points out. Which is pretty fair to be honest as he was responsible for Steven’s death. Steven died in hospital (Credit: BBC) Where is little Abi? But then there’s the added complication of little Abi. Abi – Max’s daughter – also died a few weeks after Steven when she fell from the roof of The Queen Vic. Her baby daughter was delivered and named Abi after her mum. Max has been caring for little Abi but he told Zoe she was with his ex-wife. But the jury’s out on whether Abi’s with his ex-wife, Tanya or his other ex-wife, Tanya’s sister, Rainie! Of course little Abi has another grandmother… Cindy! We’re excited already! Read more: Who’s leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders? Complete list of cast exits, arrivals and returns. Share Good to Know Share By Kerry Barrett Sep 6 2025 By Kerry Barrett Sep 6 2025
