EastEnders’ Max Branning faces a bleak Christmas in Walford
EastEnders’ Linda Carter has dropped a heartbreaking bombshell on Max Branning, leaving him completely shaken.
Earlier this week, womaniser Max (Jake Wood) made a dramatic comeback to Albert Square after rushing to be with his son Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier), who bravely rescued Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) from a burning building.
Max now appears to be a changed man, eager to repair his damaged relationships with his children, Oscar and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), according to OK!.
However, for the past five years, Max has been unaware that he is the father of a child he shares with Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), following their brief affair. His entire family kept Annie’s true paternity a closely guarded secret.
In Friday’s episode of EastEnders, which aired at 7.30pm on BBC One, Max attempted to prove that his children now come first, ultimately winning Lauren over to his path of redemption.
His actions gave Linda plenty to think about, and she decided to give Max a chance by allowing him to move into her boutique hotel. During a heartfelt and private moment, Linda finally confessed that Max is the father of her daughter, Annie. The question now is how Max will cope with such a life-changing revelation.
In next week’s episodes of the long-running BBC soap, Max lets his anger and confusion spill over to his family, while Lauren and Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) rush to contain the consequences of Linda’s bombshell.
The pair vow to support Max as he comes to terms with the truth that Annie is his daughter, with Lauren and Jack convinced they have talked him out of doing anything impulsive.
But Max’s choice to take advice from his former lover Zoe sends him down a risky path that could come back to haunt him.
On Christmas Eve, Max’s actions see him become his own worst enemy on the Square. He tries to repair his relationship with Oscar, only to make matters worse, before Linda approaches him and he attempts to resolve yet another conflict.
Meanwhile, Oscar drinks alone to numb his pain before eventually joining the rest of the family at the carol concert, where chaos is never far away.
Left feeling let down by his father yet again — and emboldened by festive spirits — Oscar delivers a shocking revelation to Max that threatens to derail the Brannings’ Christmas celebrations.
The next day, the Brannings and Beales prepare to come together for a Christmas Day meal at No. 45, with Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) and Harvey (Ross Boatman) fully getting into the festive mood.
But it wouldn’t be Christmas in Walford without a healthy dose of chaos. Cindy Beale’s (Michele Collins) arrival throws the celebrations into disarray, as her family rushes to keep her away from Max.
As dinner gets underway, it’s clear Max is still brooding over Oscar’s earlier revelation. It isn’t long before long-buried secrets come to light, sparking explosive scenes around the table and leaving no one untouched.
Will Max ever be able to mend his fractured relationships with his children in Walford? And is there any chance of a future for Max and Linda?
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