Jake Wood is to take a year-long break from EastEnders later this year, it has been revealed this morning. Over the summer, the BBC is promising that viewers will see Jake's character Max Branning "pushed to his limits when he finds himself in a situation that even he can't squirm out of."
Jake Wood / Credit: BBC
With lots of drama also being hyped up, fans are being told not to worry as Jake has already re-signed his contract and will be back next year to rejoin the soap.
Wood joined the soap nine years ago, arriving with his on-screen family and going on to become involved in some of the soap's biggest moments, most notably when Max had an affair with his daughter-in-law Stacey, leading to the death of his son, Max.
Executive Producer of EastEnders, Dominic Treadwell-Collins commented: "When I returned to EastEnders both Jake and I agreed that Max has been through so much over the past nine years that we would both give him and a Jake a break when the opportunity arose. That opportunity has come and it is the perfect time to send Max Branning out with a bang that will send ripples through the Square for the rest of the year until Jake returns."
Chatting about his break, Jake said: "I have been at EastEnders for nine years and I feel the time is right to give Max a break but it won't be for too long, as I shall be back next year to see Max face another chapter of drama."
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