EastEnders star Jake Wood is being tipped for a return as Max Branning after a four-year absence from the soap.

The actor last appeared on the BBC soap back in February 2021, with his character leaving Albert Square after burning bridges with nearly everyone in his life.

The door had been left open for his potential return in the future, and The Sun has now reported that he’ll be back in Walford sometime this year to “ruffle some feathers”.

“Bosses are excited about what his character’s reappearance means for spicing up the plots,” a source told the publication.

“There is plenty to go at. Max has loads of unfinished business in the Square and is set to ruffle some feathers.”

Digital Spy has reached out to EastEnders, who declined to comment on the reports.

Wood previously said that he was “really pleased” soap bosses left the door open for a potential return, adding: “Never say never”.

The news comes after it was announced that his former on-screen lover Lacey Turner is set to bow out as Stacey Slater later this year to focus on her family and new work opportunities.

“We can confirm that Lacey will be off-screen later this year, but there is plenty of more drama to come beforehand and we will look forward to planning Stacey’s return when Lacey decides the time is right,” said a spokesperson for the soap.

Speaking to OK! after the news was announced, Turner admitted that she can’t help feel bad for leaving her children behind to go to work.

“The older they get, the more you realise how quickly the little years pass. It’s bonkers. So I take it day by day, week by week,” she said.

“You feel guilty leaving them, but also guilty for not earning. It’s just never-ending. But we’ve got to stop judging and start supporting each other.”