Passionate reunion confirmed for giddy Max and Linda in EastEnders – but he hides something
Is that a spark we see? (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
In an unlikely turn of events, the romantic spark between Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) is reignited in EastEnders next week.
But with Max being Max, things are not set to run smoothly for the pair as he hides a whopper of a secret from the former Queen Vic landlady.
Linda and Max have a pretty complicated history, having first embarked on an affair back in 2020, when Linda was still married to her now-late husband Mick Carter (Danny Dyer).
Linda ultimately chose to stay loyal to her childhood sweetheart, with a heartbroken Max later departing Walford seemingly for good – unaware that Linda had actually fallen pregnant with his baby.
Following Max’s explosive return to the Sqaure at the end of last year, he discovered Linda’s paternity secret and has begun to build a relationship with their daughter Annie Carter (Lois Hawkins) while staying at Peacock Palace, which is owned by Linda and her mum Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe).
Max and Linda are growing closer (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
When Max tried it on with Linda after Christmas, she told him in no uncertain terms that she had no interest in him – but that all looks set to change on Tuesday.
It all begins when Linda is worried that her young son Ollie Carter (Harry Farr) is being bullied at school again.
When Max steps in to help Linda by taking care of Ollie and Annie, he soon realises that his grandson Louie Beale (Jake McNally) is actually the bully who has been targeting Linda’s son. Max attempts to nip it in the bud by reprimanding Louie, but decides to keep the truth about Ollie’s torment from Linda.
Bea spills the tea.. (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Meanwhile, Elaine isn’t happy to see Max and Linda getting close and issues him with a warning to back away from her daughter.
Linda, though, feels as though she has a confidante in her ex, and opens up about Ollie to Max, as he continues to keep quiet about what he knows.
The following day, Linda gets a call from Ollie’s school, revealing he’s been hit, which prompts Max to confront his daughter Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Peter Beale (Thomas Law) about Louie’s behaviour.
At first, the couple don’t believe him, but when Max is proved right, troublesome newcomer Bea Pollard (Ronni Ancona) overhears him telling Lauren not to tell Linda…
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Linda receives a distressing call (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Later that evening, Max and Linda grow ever closer, and she unexpectedly moves in for a passionate kiss.
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The following morning, the giddy pair can’t hide their feelings around one another – but Bea soon drops a bombshell by telling Elaine that Louie is Ollie’s bully and Max knew all about it.
With Elaine dead set against Linda’s feelings for Max, it is only a matter of time before she tells her daughter the truth, but will it kill their romance dead in the water?
Of course, Linda was one of four potential Walford women who were teased to be heading down the aisle with Max in the New Year’s Day flash forward episode, so it may not be all over just yet…
EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 9th February at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.
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