EastEnders icon Jake Wood has given fans an update on whether he would be returning to Albert Square in the future.
Wood, 51, was chatting to Kate Garraway and Ed Balls on Good Morning Britain on Monday (April 8). On the show, he promoted his new role as he is set to star in a play at the London Tide, but it soon became clear that fans wanted to know about his stint on the BBC show.
Hosts Kate and Ed cheekily asked Jake to pick which was more likely – either his reprisal of his iconic character on the show or whether his favourite team Arsenal would win the Premier League. Clearly embarrassed by the question, the Max Branning actor made it clear what he made of the choice.
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Responding to the question, Jake said: “Well, if you ask me which one I’d prefer, I’d prefer Arsenal to win the League. Most likely? I hope Arsenal.”
(Image: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)
But he was quick to clear up any potential confusion, adding there was no bad blood between him and the soap. He added that while the door was always open for him to come back, he had “no plans” of making a return to the programme.
“I’ve got no plans to go back, they’ve kept the door open,” he explained. “It’s been three-and-a-half years since I’ve not been there.
“It’s been a while,” he added, before finishing off with his elusive final response to the question. “Never say never,” he mused.
(Image: BBC / Kieron McCarron)
Whilst fans might be disappointed with the news, Jake’s career is still going strong as he bags a prestigious role at the National Theatre in London Tide from Wednesday (April 10) to June 22 this year. Followers of the Max Branning icon can still bag tickets for the shows, which will run throughout spring and into summer.
Wood opted to leave the Square in early 2021 after 16 years on the show. Viewers can recall that the time Max was in the soap was less than peaceful for the character, with several rows with his family and the death of his pal Steven Beale.
Upon learning of her death, a distraught Max tried to jump off the roof of the Vic pub in harrowing scenes that left viewers wincing. Sadly, Max caused another tragedy on the soap as his daughter Abi fell to her death whilst trying to save her dad.
(Image: BBC/Nicky Johnston)
Afterwards, Max began an affair with the Vic’s landlady Linda Carter as she struggled in her marriage to Mick, played by notorious hard-man Danny Dyer. Despite plans for the pair to elope to New Zealand, Max was forced to let go of his new beau when Linda admitted she was still in love with her husband.
With nothing left going for him in Walford, Max left the Square and settled in Croatia, hundreds of miles away from the drama of the BBC soap. However, even off-screen, Max was being a bad boy – having affairs with daughter Lauren Branning’s best mate.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
