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EastEnders star Jake Wood has revealed that there is a "long-running" story on the way for his character Max Branning and brother Derek.
Max spent time with Derek (Jamie Foreman) away from Albert Square late last year after on-off partner Tanya had rejected him. Despite hints that the siblings were getting up to no good, viewers have not yet discovered the full story of what went on.
However, Wood has now told Inside Soap that the truth will be revealed in the coming months.
Wood commented: "The story will emerge - and it's incredibly exciting. There's a story concerning Max and Derek which is set to be long-running, and everything will be explained.
"Jamie Foreman and I are in on it, and we've got a firm sense of what Max and Derek got up to."
The actor also expressed delight over the way Derek has shaken up life for the Branning family in recent months.
He said: "Jamie is fantastic to work with. He's had a huge impact on the show."
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EastEnders star Jamie Foreman has promised that there is an "interesting new direction" ahead for his villainous character Derek Branning.
The actor, who has been appearing in the role since November, explained that he wants to keep challenging himself by exploring different sides of Derek's personality.
Writing in his new autobiography Gangsters, Guns and Me - which is being serialised in The Mirror this week - Foreman commented: "We hit the ground running to bring Derek to the Square and Pam St Clement was phenomenal.
"In one scene, she established my character more easily than I could have done in four episodes. To see Pat, who's never been frightened of anyone, running scared of this man showed everything about my character in a moment."
"We've got plans to take Derek off in an interesting new direction, which will be a real challenge for me as an actor," Foreman added. "It would have been so easy to go in there and do the one-dimensional gangster who growls at everyone, but I care too much about showing the real side of these characters.
"For the moment, EastEnders is where I'm at and I'm loving every moment of it. I've never been recognised so much in my life and I get stopped all the time in the street - it's nuts. Every day's a challenge."
Derek previously appeared on screen briefly in 1996, with actor Terence Beesley in the role.
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EASTENDERS' Alfie Moon looks like he's regretting getting pally with Derek Branning, when the gangster makes him turn errand boy.
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Dodgy Derek has been pulling illegal scams ever since he arrived in Walford, making a bid to be E20's answer to the Kray twins.
But it looks like his suspect business dealings have caught up with him, as these pictures taken on location show he has been beaten up.
Derek (played by Jamie Foreman) is pictured with a black eye and a split lip and is obviously in pain as he slowly gets out of the car.
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Partners in crime ... Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) and Derek Branning (Jamie Foreman)
So he ropes in loveable landlord Alfie (Shane Richie) to do his dirty work for him and forces him to make a delivery on a grotty-looking council estate.
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Taste of his own medicine ... looks like someone else has been handing out the beatings
We wouldn't like to be in Alfie's shoes when his feisty wife Kat (Jessie Wallace) gets back to Albert Square and discovers what's been going on. Or in Derek's, for that matter...
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Nice little earner ... reluctant 'business' partners Alfie and Derek
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EastEnders star Jamie Foreman has hinted that viewers will soon see a nicer side to his character Derek Branning.
Derek's villainous behaviour has caused a stir in Walford over the past few months, with some local residents feeling intimidated by his presence and others regarding him as an enemy.
However, Foreman told Inside Soap: "In the future, we're going to see a different side to Derek that will take viewers by surprise.
"I've had some great days in the studio lately, where I've been getting involved with characters that I never thought he'd be put together with.
"Derek is a passionate man who can have a lot of consideration for other people, believe it or not!"
The actor also responded to recent fan speculation that Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) could really be Derek's daughter rather than Max's.
Foreman said: "I've heard that theory myself, and think it's rather interesting. I'm dying to know why Derek and Tanya don't get on. The scripts are always written with them showing so much animosity towards each other, and I'm champing at the bit to find out where that comes from.
"I've got my own ideas about it, but maybe that's it with Lauren - who knows?"
Foreman took over the role of Derek late last year.
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EastEnders actor Jamie Foreman has revealed he hopes to keep making films, despite becoming a soap star.
Jamie - who has had big screen roles in Nil By Mouth, Layer Cake and Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist - reckons playing a soap villain could boost his film fanbase.
The actor - who plays Albert Square's Derek Branning - said: "I'm contracted to EastEnders for a year, and I'll stick to doing the best I can with the time I've got there.
"I've got a couple of movies coming out, including a psychological thriller called Hard Shoulder, and a movie called St George's Day, in which I play a police officer, and I'm very excited about seeing that.
"I don't want to lose sight of my film career - I've built a new audience with EastEnders, and I'll bring that audience to the films that I'm in, so I'm very happy about that."
He added: "I've made over 40 films, and if 10 million people went to see one of them, it would be a box-office smash. EastEnders gets that four times a week.
"I've always had a fanbase, I've always had people stop me in the street and we'd have a chat, but this is completely nuts. It's bizarre but lovely. The wonderful thing is that when people see me they always smile first and then say, 'Oh, you're that really nasty man', which means they are enjoying the character. They always go, 'You're wicked, you're evil' and I say, 'Thank you very much'."
:: Gangsters, Guns And Me by Jamie Foreman is published in paperback by John Blake, priced £7.99.
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EastEnders fans finally catch a glimpse of Derek Branning's softer side next week as it becomes clear that he's a man harbouring more than a few regrets.
Derek, played by Jamie Foreman, enjoys spending time at the Butcher household in an upcoming episode - covering for Tiffany and Morgan when he learns that they're pretending to be ill to avoid school.
The youngsters are also secretly taking care of a stray kitten, so Derek suggests that they should call him Joey - neglecting to mention that it's the name of his estranged son.
After getting on so well with Bianca's kids, Derek wonders whether he can make peace with his son and recruits Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) to help him out.
Derek asks Alfie to deliver his grandfather's watch as a present for Joey. As he waits in the car, the Albert Square villain also hopes that Joey will agree to see him, but a disappointed Alfie soon returns with the watch in hand - having been turned away by Derek's son.
Derek isn't entirely surprised by the rejection as he's never really been around for Joey, but it's clear that he's feeling hurt as he warns Alfie not to tell anyone about this...
EastEnders bosses recently announced that Derek's daughter Alice will be arriving in Walford in May. Will Derek get his chance to prove himself as a good dad when she turns up?
EastEnders airs these scenes on Thursday, April 26 at 7.30pm on BBC One.
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EastEnders actor Jamie Foreman has claimed that Derek Branning will resort to any measure in his vendetta against Phil Mitchell.
Next Monday, Shirley Carter drinks herself to oblivion at the Queen Vic and takes up an invitation to Derek's for a nightcap.
Speaking to Inside Soap, Foreman revealed that Shirley initially fears she has slept with the villain before he spreads the word to Phil.
Foreman divulged: "Things aren't as they seem - they haven't given Derek a woman just yet.
"Derek doesn't sleep with Shirley (Linda Henry), he just sees it as the perfect opportunity to wind Phil up. He doesn't care what he does to get a reaction or find a weakness in Phil (Steve McFadden).
"Derek isn't afraid of reprisals - he's the kind of man who will always live to fight another day."
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EastEnders actor Jamie Foreman has credited Pam St Clement for supporting the introduction of his villainous character Derek Branning.
Speaking on today's This Morning, the 53-year-old claimed that his deathbed scene with Pat Butcher provoked a huge reaction among fans.
"She helped establish Derek more than anything else," he told ITV1's magazine show.
"Just the reaction that she showed to him and the relationship they had was just phenomenal and I bless her for that."
Evil Derek mocked a dying Pat in an emotional New Year's Day edition of the Albert Square soap, which marked St Clement's last appearance as the Walford matriarch, having played her since 1986.
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Derek seemed a bit nicer when he was with Shirley. Maybe she brings out a better side of him? :hmm:
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Jamie Foreman's EastEnders contract has been extended until October, it has been confirmed.
Foreman - Derek Branning in the BBC serial - today appeared in court over child support repayments for his two sons, 22-year-old Louis and 20-year-old Alfie.
While no details of the actor's salary were disclosed, it was revealed that he will stay on the Albert Square soap for another six months, reports the Daily Mail.
The 53-year-old, who was made bankrupt in 2008 before joining EastEnders last August, was handed his new contract in March.
His solicitor said: "Mr Foreman is currently under contract with the BBC, due to expire in October. If his contract is renewed Mr Foreman hopes to continue payment at the rate he is paying now.
"One would hope that all things being equal Mr Foreman's success, being as it is, he is confident he can maintain the payments being made now at a regular level, if his contract is renewed. If it is not renewed this may have to be reviewed."
Foreman has already paid off £16,000 from the original £67,000 debt, leaving £51,000 now owed to the Child Support Agency.