The news is officially out – Max Branning has returned to EastEnders, and he’s been having a romance with Zoe Slater. Could anyone have seen that one coming?
After all, they’ve never even lived on the Square at the same time. It’s the twist nobody could have foreseen, and fans can’t wait to see what happens next. But, given Max’s history with the Slater family following his ruinous affair with Stacey, is his latest romance over before it could even begin?
Now that this huge revelation is out in the open, actor Jake Wood has revealed what fans can expect from Zoe and Max’s future.
Max’s interest was piqued when he sensed another Slater (Credit: BBC)
EastEnders star Jake Wood explains Max and Zoe romance
“So, Max and Zoe met out at a bar,” Jake explains. “Max overheard she was a Slater, so that sparked his interest! The old Slater radar went off!”
Of course, there was the moment between the pair of them when Max commented that Zoe reminded him of Stacey. So was that all that attracted Max to another Slater woman?
Jake says there’s more to the relationship than simply Max hankering over Stacey.
“I think the relationship between them is genuine,” he says. “I think there are feelings between them. By the time Max comes back on the Square it’s become very complicated, but I do feel they have a connection.”
Jake explains that their connection is all about Zoe’s hunt for her son, while Max has lost his children Bradley and Abi, and is estranged from Oscar and Lauren.
“I think a lot of the connection is down to Zoe looking for her son that she gave up for adoption,” explains Jake. “For Max that was very pertinent, it’s got deep meaning for him, not having a relationship with his kids.”
So is it a love match? Jake is reluctant to reveal what happens next!
“Where it goes in the future I don’t know, but for me I felt there was a connection,” he says.
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