EastEnders favourite Jake Wood will make his final appearance as Walford business man Max Branning tonight.
The 48-year-old actor bid farewell to the set of the BBC One soap for a final time after 16 years in December last year.
He filmed an emotional clip at the time where he said his goodbyes and reflected on how much he will miss his co-stars.
Max’s final scenes will air on February 19, the same day the serial drama marks its 36th anniversary.
Fans recently saw Max blackmail Albert Square hardman Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) to get Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) to sell the Queen Vic pub back to Mick (Danny Dyer) and Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).
Jake Wood will make his final appearance as Walford business man Max Branning tonight (Image: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)
EastEnders spoilers have revealed that Max promises Linda he’ll have a surprise for her that may help both her and maybe Mick.
Linda realises that he knows the truth about Mick’s abuse, and Mick soon punches Max, telling him that he’ll kill him if he ever goes near Linda again.
Ahead of his departure from the soap, father-of-two Jake has revealed that there is still scope for his return in the future.
Daily Star has taken a look into Jake’s life off camera as he bids farewell to Max Branning for now.
Family man
The actor has been married to wife Alison for almost 30 years and the couple share two children, Amber and Buster (Image: Instagram)
Jake tends to keep his family out of the public eye.
The actor has been married to wife Alison for almost 30 years and the couple share two children, Amber and Buster.
During an appearance on Loose Women, he opened up about his relationship, gushing: “We’ve spent half of our lives together.
“We’ve grown together and at every point we’ve always wanted the same things.”
Jake previously opened up about a terrifying experience that happened during his holiday back in 2014 (Image: Getty Images)
“Blokes in general struggle to talk about stuff so she’s taught me how to do that.
“I think it’s work in progress but I do try and get things out.”
Jake previously opened up about a terrifying experience that happened during his holiday back in 2014, when Alison nearly got eaten alive by an alligator while they were in holiday.
He told the Daily Star that his two children had witnessed it, and he was screaming to Alison to get back on the boat.
Luckily, Alison escaped unharmed, but Jake admits that he feels “squiffy” when he thinks about the incident even now.
Stunning daughter
Jake and Alison’s daughter Amber Wood is hoping to become a model (Image: Instagram)
The Max Branning star is a proud father and he logged into his Instagram account to share a very rare photo of her teenage daughter Amber in 2019.
He revealed at the time that the youngster is hoping to make it as a model.
The father of two posted a stunning headshots of Amber, and wrote the caption: “My daughter Amber Bo wants to model. Thank goodness she takes after her mum.”
Former EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa, who played Jake’s daughter Lauren Branning on the soap, commented: “Stunning”.
While another fan, wrote: “She’s your double! Stunning young lady”.
The actor, best known for playing character Max on the BBC1 show, also tagged leading modelling agency Wilhelmina Models in the post, but it’s unclear whether the teen is signed to the company.
Jake previously took a break from EastEnders five years ago and quit boozing with his cast mates after filming to spend more time with Amber and Buster.
Hunky transformation
The EastEnders legend sent fans into meltdown back in April after sharing a topless selfie on Instagram (Image: DAILY MIRROR)
Jake got on the lockdown fitness train and unveiled his ripped transformation last year.
He sent fans into meltdown back in April after sharing a topless selfie on Instagram which showed off the results of his hard graft.
The actor has since shared more photographs of his muscled arms and rippling six pack.
He’s since given his social media followers a sneak peek at his gruelling fitness regime which includes punch bag sessions and going long runs.
Jake also enjoys embarking on lengthy bike rides when he’s not working and has a passion for boxing.
The soap star also helped fellow EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale, with his weight loss journey.
Neighbourhood hero
Jake saved the life of an elderly neighbour locked in a shed during a heatwave last year (Image: Instagram)
The EastEnders legend saved the life of an elderly neighbour locked in a shed during a heatwave last year.
Jake was in the middle of recording a podcast when he heard the pensioner’s cry for help during the sweltering heat last June.
He sprang into action and went to the rescue of the OAP.
Speaking to ex-boxer Nigel Benn on his podcast Pound for Pound, Jake explained: “Our neighbour David, a lovely old boy, had trapped and locked himself in the shed.
“He was screaming and shouting, so I went round and he’s got a little catch that goes up and down.
“Obviously he hasn’t got a handle on the inside. So he’d been in the shed and it shut and he couldn’t get out.”
The father of two added: “He had a smile on his face when I opened the door.
“I think he was trying to style it out but inside his heart was pounding away.”
Social media hell
Jake’s Instagram account got hacked earlier this year (Image: Getty Images)
2021 didn’t get of to a good start for Jake after he discovered he was being impersonated by an online fraudster who had been privately messaging his followers as him.
A Twitter profile was set up by an imposter pretending to be soap star.
He later issued a warning to his fans after being caught up in an online scam.
The star said: “It has just come to my attention that this cretin is messaging a lot of my followers pretending to be me. Please report and block him.”
Things got even worse for the actor when his Instagram account got hacked just two weeks later.
He came off the photo-sharing site for a while but he’s since returned.
Unrecognisable new look
The soap star recently unveiled a selfie where he showed off the impressive beard (Image: mrjakewood/Instagram)
Jake appears to have wasted no time in changing up his appearance since leaving his role as Max Branning.
He recently unveiled a selfie where he showed off the impressive beard that he has grown in recent weeks.
In the snap, that Jake shared with his 145,000 Instagram followers, the actor donned a woolly blue hat and wrapped up warm in a hoodie as he gazed away from the camera.
Alongside the picture, he added a simple caption: “#BeardWatch.”
Jake’s fans have since rushed to compliment the star on his new look.
The soap icon first joined EastEnders in 2006, with his character Max always being either completely clean-shaven or having very minimal stubble.
New role
Jake has teased that he’s bagged his first role as a director after leaving the soap (Image: mrjakewood/Instagram)
Jake has teased that he’s bagged his first role as a director after leaving the soap.
The star wasted no time in getting to grips with his next project, sharing his excitement as being behind the camera for a change.
Taking to his Instagram page, Jake shared a photo of himself proudly smiling while holding up the slate board for a top secret project.
His name is clearly on display next to the director prompt.
Another photo showed an actress wearing a face mask on camera, plus one of an actor.
The final snap showed filming underway outside of a greengrocers set, with two men setting up the camera.
Jake is just one of several EastEnders characters to be leaving Walford, with Adam Woodyatt also confirmed to be taking an extended break from his role of Ian Beale after 35 years.
Lacey Turner will also be leaving for maternity leave, while Davood Ghadami’s departure will be shown on screens in the near future.
EastEnders continues on BBC One tonight at 8.05pm
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
