🎬 EastEnders Confirms Major Return After 4 Years – First Look Revealed!
EastEnders has officially confirmed the long-anticipated return of Max Branning, played by Jake Wood, resurrecting one of Walford’s most notorious characters after four years away uk.news.yahoo.com+13Wikipedia+13Digital Spy+13
. A first-look image of Max standing outside Walford East station has just been released, setting the tone for an ominous and dramatic comeback .
🌪️ What We Know
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Short-Stint This Autumn, Full-Time Return Later in 2025
According to executive producer Ben Wadey, Max will make a brief appearance this autumn, before returning permanently later in the year The Guardian+8The Sun+8Wikipedia+8. -
“Plenty of Chaos” Ahead
Jake Wood teased that his return will bring “lots of unresolved drama” and “plenty of chaos” to Albert Square thisismoney.co.uk+13tvguide.co.uk+13Radio Times+13. -
Family Drama Intensifies
Max returns to face a changed Square: his daughter Lauren is married or about to marry, and his son Oscar is back—now aged up and recast, played by Pierre Moullier The Sun+15The Sun+15Radio Times+15.
🔄 Oscar Branning Also Returns
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Recast Confirmation
Oscar Branning makes a comeback too, recast as a teenager by Pierre Moullier. His return, along with Max’s, signals a Branning family revival The Sun+4The Sun+4The Scottish Sun+4. -
Home to Walford Drama
Oscar’s re-entry will likely dig into family tension—especially with Lauren and Tanya as Max resurfaces Media Mole+14What to Watch+14The Sun+14.
🧩 Why It Matters
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Max’s Story Isn’t Over
Max left in 2021 after burning many bridges. His return indicates the Brannings are again central to core storylines—fueled by hidden drama and family conflict Digital Spy+12Wikipedia+12Radio Times+12Radio Times+5The Sun+5tvguide.co.uk+5. -
Soap at a Turning Point
With the soap celebrating its 40th anniversary and multiple character returns (Grant Mitchell, Nigel Bates, Vicki Fowler), Max’s comeback is part of a major shift in Walford’s narrative The Scottish Sun+7BBC+7The Sun+7.
🎠What to Watch For
| Key Element | What’s Happening |
|---|---|
| Autumn Teaser | Max makes a brief visit, stirring old relationships. |
| Full-Time Return | Later this year, more drama as secrets unravel. |
| Oscar & Lauren | New sibling rivalry, parenting challenges, and deeper Branning issues. |
| Square’s Reaction | Expect tensions with Beales, Carters, Slaters, and Mitchells. |
đź‘€ Final Thoughts
This is no ordinary return—it’s a strategic story reset tied to EastEnders’ milestone year. Max Branning’s comeback, paired with Oscar’s return, promises high-stakes drama, family conflict, and the inevitable clash with Walford’s newer generations.
Get ready—Max is back, and Walford may never be the same.
