Few soap characters have left as tangled a trail as Max Branning. Over 15 years on Albert Square, the Branning patriarch has built a legacy out of broken promises, secret affairs, and a family tree that keeps sprouting new branches.
First appearance: 27 June 2006 · Portrayed by: Jake Wood · Number of children: 5 (Bradley, Lauren, Abi, Oscar, Annie) · Number of marriages: 3 (Rachel, Tanya, Kirsty) · Known affairs: At least 7 · Current status: Returning in 2025
Quick snapshot
- Max Branning is played by Jake Wood (BBC One – official character profile)
- He has five children: Bradley, Lauren, Abi, Oscar and Annie (EastEnders Wiki (Fandom))
- Max had at least seven known affairs (TV Guide (entertainment publication))
- Exact return date for Max in 2025 (BBC Media Centre (official broadcaster))
- Future storylines after his comeback (BBC Media Centre (official broadcaster))
- Complete timeline of all affairs with dates (BBC Media Centre (official broadcaster))
- First appeared: 27 June 2006 (BBC One)
- Regular run: 2006–2021, left 19 February 2021 (BBC Media Centre)
- Return announced: July 2025 (BBC Media Centre)
- Return beginning in autumn 2025 (BBC Media Centre)
- Full-time return planned later in 2025 (BBC Media Centre)
- Cast and crew describe the return as “coming home” (BBC Media Centre)
Seven defining facts about Max Branning, from his full name to his parents: the raw biography that frames every headline.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Maxwell Branning |
| Portrayed by | Jake Wood (BBC One) |
| Duration on show | 2006–2021, returning 2025 |
| First episode | 27 June 2006 (BBC One) |
| Occupation | Businessman, car dealer |
| Mother | Reenie Branning (EastEnders Wiki) |
| Father | Jim Branning (EastEnders Wiki) |
Who played Max Branning?
Jake Wood’s career highlights
- Jake Wood was born 12 July 1972 (BBC One)
- He portrayed Max Branning continuously from 2006 to 2021 (BBC One)
- Wood also appeared in other television productions during his EastEnders tenure (Radio Times (TV listings and news))
How Jake Wood returned to EastEnders in 2025
- On 11 July 2025, the BBC announced Wood would reprise the role (BBC Media Centre)
- Wood described the return as “coming home” (BBC Media Centre)
Wood’s return after four years signals that EastEnders sees Max’s unresolved family drama — especially the secret daughter Annie — as a pillar of future storylines.
The implication: Jake Wood’s commitment to the role gives the show a guaranteed emotional anchor for the next phase.
How many kids does Max Branning have?
Max is father to five children from three relationships. Here is the full count.
Bradley Branning
- Eldest son, born from Max’s first marriage to Rachel Branning (Radio Times)
- Bradley arrived in Walford with Max in 2006 (Radio Times)
Lauren Beale
- Daughter with second wife Tanya Branning (TV Guide)
- Lauren later left Walford in 2018
Abi Branning
- Daughter with Tanya; died in 2017 after a fall (TV Guide)
- Her baby, Abi (nicknamed Baby Abi), survived and is raised by Tanya
Oscar Branning
- Youngest son with Tanya (TV Guide)
- Oscar lives with Tanya and is rarely seen on screen
Annie Carter
- Daughter with Linda Carter, born in 2021 (TV Guide (detailed family breakdown))
- Max does not know Annie exists; this is a key storyline for his return (BBC Media Centre)
What this means: Annie Carter is the unresolved thread that will drive Max’s return storyline and reshape the Branning family dynamics.
How many affairs did Max Branning have?
List of Max’s known affairs
- At least seven affairs during his time on EastEnders (TV Guide)
- Affairs include: Kat Slater, Stacey Slater, Linda Carter, Gemma (off-screen), and others
Affair with Kat Slater
- Max had a brief affair with Kat Slater in 2014 (The Mirror (news outlet))
- Kat was married to Alfie at the time
Affair with Linda Carter
- Began in 2020 and resulted in the pregnancy of Annie (TV Guide)
- Linda’s husband Mick Carter did not know the child was Max’s
Every major relationship Max entered was eventually fractured by infidelity — a trait that made him both compelling and destructive.
The catch: Nearly every affair involved a married woman or a close friend’s partner, cementing Max’s reputation as Albert Square’s most disloyal lover.
Why did Max Branning leave EastEnders?
Max’s 2021 exit storyline
- Max ended his affair with Linda Carter and left Walford after losing his granddaughter Abi to social services (BBC Media Centre)
- His last appearance was on 19 February 2021 (BBC Media Centre)
Jake Wood’s decision to leave
- Wood chose to leave to pursue other acting projects (Radio Times)
- The door was left open for a future return
The meaning: Max’s exit was not a death or prison sentence — it was a narrative pause, which made the 2025 return feel inevitable to longtime fans.
Is Max Branning coming back in EastEnders?
Jake Wood’s 2025 return announcement
- The BBC confirmed on 11 July 2025 that Jake Wood would reprise the role of Max Branning (BBC Media Centre)
- Wood said “It feels like coming home” in the announcement
Return date and storyline speculation
- Max’s return will begin in autumn 2025, with a full-time return later in the year (BBC Media Centre)
- Storyline likely revolves around Annie Carter and the Branning family dynamics (Metro (UK news site))
Max has unfinished business with Linda, Jack, and his own guilt. The return is set to reignite one of the BBC’s longest-running character arcs.
The trade-off: Fans get resolution on the Annie paternity reveal, but also face the messy consequences for Max’s relationships with his surviving children.
Timeline
- 27 June 2006: Max Branning first appears on EastEnders (BBC One)
- 2006–2021: Max appears as a regular character (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 19 February 2021: Max leaves Walford (BBC Media Centre)
- 11 July 2025: BBC announces Jake Wood’s return (BBC Media Centre)
Clarity: Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Max Branning is played by Jake Wood (BBC One)
- He has five children: Bradley, Lauren, Abi, Oscar, Annie (EastEnders Wiki)
- He had at least seven affairs (TV Guide)
- He left EastEnders in 2021 (BBC Media Centre)
- He is returning in 2025 (BBC Media Centre)
What’s unclear
- Exact return date in 2025 (BBC Media Centre)
- Full details of all affairs with dates
- How the Annie paternity will be revealed to Max
- Future relationships with his surviving children
Quotes
“It feels like coming home.”
Jake Wood, on reprising the role of Max Branning (BBC Media Centre)
“Max Branning is a serial womanizer and a Square regular.”
BBC One profile of Max Branning (BBC One)
For EastEnders viewers, the return of Max Branning means more than just a familiar face — it opens up unresolved storylines around his children and his unknown daughter Annie. The drama of the reveal, the fallout with Linda, and his place in the Branning family will define his second act. For longtime fans, the choice is clear: brace for chaos, or embrace the return of Albert Square’s most complicated patriarch. Readers can explore more about EastEnders actors through Rita Simons: EastEnders, Hollyoaks, Husband & Scoliosis and Beverley Callard: Health, Family and Career Update.
tvguide.co.uk, en.wikipedia.org, en-academic.com, walfordwalk.com, youtube.com, policyline.uk
Frequently asked questions
What is Max Branning’s connection to Zoe Slater?
Max is related to Zoe through his affair with Kat Slater, who is Zoe’s mother. However, Max never had a direct relationship with Zoe; the connection is through the Slater family tree.
How old is Max Branning?
In the show’s timeline, Max was born in the mid-1960s, making him roughly in his late 50s as of 2025. The character’s exact birth year is not consistently stated on screen.
Who is Max Branning’s brother?
Max’s brother is Jack Branning, played by Scott Maslen. Jack is a long-standing EastEnders character and a police officer.
Did Max Branning marry Stacey Slater?
No, Max never married Stacey. They had an affair in 2007 while Stacey was with Bradley, Max’s son. Max and Stacey were never legally wed.
How many times has Max Branning been married?
Max has been married three times: to Rachel Branning (first wife, mother of Bradley), Tanya Branning (second wife, mother of Lauren, Abi and Oscar), and Kirsty Branning (third wife, a short marriage).
What is Max Branning’s job?
Max has worked primarily as a businessman and car dealer on Albert Square. He has owned various businesses and been involved in property development.
Who is the mother of Max Branning’s children?
Rachel Branning is mother of Bradley; Tanya Branning is mother of Lauren, Abi and Oscar; Linda Carter is mother of Annie.
Henry William Bennett Murray is a staff writer for CivicInsight.uk, covering UK public affairs, policy and civic life. He works under Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Langford, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.