EastEnders favourite Jake Wood has opened up about why he’s decided to return to the show as Max Branning.
The star was officially confirmed for a Walford comeback today after months of rumours, with his brief return lined up for the autumn before a permanent stint later in the year.
Speaking to The Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2, Jake admitted it was “the right time” to rejoin the soap after more than four years away.
“I spoke to so many people there, loving being there at the moment,” he said, revealing he met with new executive producer Ben Wadey in January, who “outlined all of his ideas”.
“I just felt the time was right,” Jake continued. “I’ve been away for five years, and that character Max has got so much involvement with so many of the characters still there.
🌐 𝑾𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆: 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒔.𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐 – 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍
“Obviously Stacey, she’s on her own, widowed. Obviously, he’s got a kid with Linda that he knows nothing about. Lauren’s there, his wayward son Oscar is there. His brother Jack, Cindy… just so many characters that Max is involved in [and] has got drama with.
“So it felt like the right time to go back and mix things up a bit. There is [a lot of unfinished business].”
During the chat, Jake said he was “so happy to be back” and felt like he was “going home”, revealing: “I was there yesterday doing some PR shots and photos with all the family, and it was quite an emotional moment.
“Lots has changed and nothing has changed, if you know what I mean. All the people there are all the same… it was just lovely to go back, it felt like a very warm hug.”
🌐 𝑾𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆: 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒔.𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐 – 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒍
He then teased: “It’s not gonna be friendly and warm like that with Max Branning around! There’s plenty of drama lined up, and I’m so excited for what they’ve got in store.”
Speaking earlier on Jake’s return, Ben similarly noted that Max “has a lot of unfinished business” and “whether he is welcomed by his family remains to be seen”.
“However, with a past as checkered as Max’s, it’s fair to say that many Walford residents will not be pleased to see him, putting the Brannings back at the heart of the Square, and the drama, this year,” he teased.
