Max Branning (Jake Wood)

[tammyy2j]

EastEnders' Max Branning has been at the centre of some speculation on our forum in recent days after intriguing remarks made by his brother Derek in Pat's death episode.

After Derek (Jamie Foreman) angered Tanya (Jo Joyner) by taunting Pat on her deathbed, Max felt compelled to take her side - until his bad boy sibling issued him with a subtle warning.

Derek said: "Never choose a woman over your brother, Max. Remember I know things about you. Your little mistakes - things you don't want her indoors to know about. Or am I wrong?"

Immediately afterwards, Max's tone towards Derek changed and he backed down - seemingly scared of what Derek could potentially reveal to Tanya.

Could Derek have been referring to something that happened long ago, or was he talking about the time that Max spent away from the Square after Tanya rejected him last year?

You may remember that when Digital Spy asked Jake Wood about Max's time away in our interview back in November, he replied: "You get to hear bits and pieces [about what went on], but I think me and Jamie know a bit more about the backstory than what's explained on screen. So there's things they've been getting up to which might come out later, but isn't explored just yet.

"Essentially, Derek has just come out of prison and the two brothers have found each other again. It's been good for Derek to see Max again at this time, and it's the same for Max as he was at a bit of a loose end when he left the Square.

"The two of them have been getting up to no good - we know that much. Derek is the biggest, baddest Branning brother yet, so they've been getting up to some dodgy activities. There's some really good stuff coming up for the Brannings."

Could this be the hold that Derek has over Max? And if Max is hiding something, how long will he be able to keep it from Tanya?

I'm thinking it could be that Max helped Stacey escape and that he is still in love with her and visited her while he was away

[Perdita]

EastEnders star Jake Wood has predicted that his wayward character Max Branning will ultimately stand by his partner Tanya whatever the future holds for them.

Max has recently enjoyed flirting with Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) as he is frustrated over the lack of passion in his relationship with Tanya, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer last summer.

However, Max's attention will soon be diverted back to Tanya as she prepares for an important MRI scan, which will reveal whether her treatment has been successful.

Wood told All About Soap: "It's a life-changing moment for all the family, and it's affecting them in different ways. Lauren's drinking more, and Max and Tanya are tiptoeing around each other. Max misses the old Tanya and is praying the scan's clear so they can get back to some sort of normality.

"He promised Tanya he'd be there for her every step of the way, and he has stuck to his word so far. He's committed to her, and he loves her no matter what - I'm sure he'd be there for her if they got bad news."

Wood added that he was surprised when he first heard about Max's unexpected spark with Roxy.

"Rita and I couldn't believe it when we got the scripts," he said. "It's interesting to see them together - they're both in strange places at the moment."

EastEnders fans will see Tanya's test results revealed on Thursday, March 15 at 7.30pm on BBC One.

[tammyy2j]

EastEnders' Jake Wood tells Soaplife that Max's life in Manchester with dastardly Derek is about to catch up with him in Walford - and it stops him saying 'yes' when Tanya asks him to marry her...

So how does Tanya come to propose to Max?
"It's the culmination of an argument that ends up on the dining room table in a passionate way! Tanya uses the impetus and proposes to Max - but he hesitates and that upsets her."

Why does Max hesitate?
"He tells her that it's what he wants, but he wanted to propose to her. To make it really special. He's thinking on his feet and Tanya absolutely believes him."

It's not the truth, though, is it?
"There may be one or two hurdles in the way of Max marrying Tanya. It could be to do with something that happened while he was away in Manchester with Derek."

What kind of hurdles? Does Max already have a wife hidden away?
"I can't tell you what the problem is but I can tell you it is massive."

Is Max afraid that Derek will reveal his Manchester secret?
"Derek is using it as a stick to beat Max with. He keeps threatening to tell Tanya and Max doesn't want that so he's allowing Derek to have a hold over him."

Can we hope to see a Max and Tany wedding soon?
"We'll have to wait and see if they get that far! I know there are big things happening in the autumn, in the build up to Christmas."

But Jo Joyner [Tanya] is leaving. Won't that finish their relationship?
"It depends on how they write Jo out. She's having a break to spend time with her babies so she will be back."

[sarah c]

he's married to someone else????

[Perdita]

EastEnders star Jake Wood has promised that the soap is still planning to reveal the secrets of Max Branning's time away from Walford last year.

Max departed Albert Square temporarily in late 2011 after on-off partner Tanya had rejected him, and soon began spending time with his bad boy brother Derek in Manchester. Derek later reminded Max that Tanya would not be happy if she ever found out what he had been up to during his time away.

As viewers will see Max turn down a marriage proposal from Tanya next week, Wood has suggested that the mysterious Manchester trip could still be playing on his mind.

Asked why Max rejects Tanya's heartfelt suggestion, Wood told Soaplife: "It could be to do with something that happened while he was away in Manchester with Derek. There may be one or two hurdles in the way of Max marrying Tanya."

Teasing what those hurdles could be, he continued: "I can't tell you what the problem is, but I can tell you it's massive."

Wood added that he is still unsure over what the future holds for Max's relationship following the news that Jo Joyner, who plays Tanya, will be taking a break from EastEnders in 2013.

He said: "It depends how they write Jo out. She's having a break to spend time with her babies, so she will be back."

Promising that Max will not become a spare part, Wood added: "Max and Tanya work really well together, but I also think Max is just as interesting on his own. Last time Tanya wasn't around, he found Vanessa."

EastEnders bosses yesterday unveiled Max as one of the suspects in Kat Moon's affair mystery.

[tammyy2j]

he's married to someone else????

Yes sounds like that plus that he has a kid with someone else I think that was on a soap mag or other forum

[tammyy2j]

EastEnders star Jake Wood has revealed fans of the show can look forward to a 'Branning Christmas'.

The actor's character Max Branning - who is rumoured to be embroiled in an affair with Kat Moon - is set to tie the knot again with ex-wife Tanya over the festive period, and Jake is expecting some drama.

He revealed at the TVChoice Awards: "Max and Tanya are potentially getting remarried, they're planning for that at the moment so we've got to wait and see, and obviously the Kat reveal I think will be some time before Christmas, so it should be a good Christmas, it'll be a Branning Christmas I think."

Jo Joyner, who plays Tanya, is taking a break from the soap early in 2013, and Jake admitted he will miss his co-star.

"Yeah of course. But Jo's got twins and she wanted to take a break and spend some time at home and come back once they're settled at school.

"We've all done that - I took three months last year and I think it's important to come back refreshed and ready to go again. As lovely as it is to be in the show, it's good to take breaks every now and again. You come back and sort of hit the ground running again."

Meanwhile, Kat's husband Alfie, played by Shane Richie, is set to learn of her infidelity later this week.

Shane said: "Friday night is the night where it kicks off, where Alfie finds out, so people had better be watching."

[Perdita]

EastEnders actor Jake Wood has revealed that there will be more drama ahead for his character Max Branning in 2013.

Max is set to reveal his big secret ahead of his wedding to fiancée Tanya (Jo Joyner) in the Christmas episode of the soap.

Wood revealed to MSN: "He's not going to get a quiet life, we know that. There's more drama ahead for Max, a lot more drama."

The actor, however, said that he prefers Max's dramatic life, adding: "It's incredibly exciting to be at the centre of the big episodes."

Wood admitted that the current storyline of Max's big secret is one of his favourite plots.

"This has got to be up there, and also the Stacey affair. I loved working with Lacey Turner - she's an incredible actress and that [storyline] was well mapped out too," he said.

The Christmas episode where Max's secret will come out will air tomorrow (Tuesday, December 25) at 8.45pm on BBC1.

Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2...#ixzz2FzotgqFt

[lizann]

he's married to someone else????

BINGO

[lizann]

his new missus kirsty looks like she had work done to her face