Max Branning makes unexpected return to EastEnders… before leaving again in a cab
Fans take to Twitter to express their delight at his brief appearance in tonight’s episode of life in the Square
IT’S the moment EastEnders fans have been waiting for since Bobby Beale admitted he killed Lucy Beale – the return of wrongly convicted Max Branning.
And they took to Twitter to share their joy at seeing the second-hand car dealer’s unexpected return which proved to be very brief.
Max, played by Jake Wood, was seen speeding away from Albert Square in a taxi after avoiding a Branning family reunion.
And he didn’t even speak a word as daughter Lauren, played by Jacqueline Jossa, screamed his name and ran after him.
His return was hinted at during tonight’s episode when Abi, played by Lorna Fitzgerald, and Lauren sent Stacey Fowler – Lacey Turner - to his court hearing with a letter begging him to come home and meet them in the Queen Vic but he failed to show.
Instead, as Lauren and Stephen wondered why he hadn’t come to meet them, Max shoved the screwed up letter through Dot's letterbox.
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Realising what it was, a tearful Lauren ran out of the house and into the Square to see her father sitting inside a black cab that was heading up the street.
And as she ran after the car screaming “Dad! Dad!” Max didn’t even look back as the cab or utter a word as he left Walford again.
Fans took to Twitter to herald his comeback and one wrote: “Great to see @mrjakewood back on @bbceastenders tonight! It’s not been the same without Max ‘Ladies Man’ Branning.”
Another added, “And he’s back! Ian Beale, mate, I’d watch your back!” while another added: “Happy daze (sic) my fav (sic) Eastender is back. Might start watching Eastenders again now.”
Max has been in prison since last October wrongly accused of the murder of Lucy.
And now viewers will have to wait to see whether Max will get his own back on the Beales – who covered up Bobby’s crime and let Max take the fall.
He may also snub his own daughter Lauren who fled to New Zealand even though she knew her father was innocent.
Speaking recently about what he'd like to see Max do once he makes a full-time return, Jake said: "Hopefully Max will create some havoc. I'd like to see him go after Ian for setting him up.
“Hopefully he'll come out of jail looking for revenge."