EastEnders fans were left in shock at the end of tonight’s episode, as Max Branning made his permanent return to Albert Square as he ‘crashed’ Lauren and Peter’s surprise wedding

One thing is certain—Max’s return is not just a fleeting cameo. The writing is on the wall that his storyline will send shockwaves across the Square for months to come.

Producers have hinted that this arc will drag up the past while forcing characters into choices that could reshape their futures forever. For fans who have missed the old-school EastEnders blend of scandal and heartbreak, this twist is being hailed as the soap “getting back to its roots.”

What’s perhaps most remarkable is how Max’s comeback managed to overshadow the wedding itself. The weeks of buildup, the romantic trailers, and the emotional preparations were suddenly rendered secondary to the thunderous drama of one man’s reappearance.

Viewers who had been swooning over the couple’s love story now find themselves asking if they’ll even make it down the aisle at all—or if Max’s revelations will tear their bond to pieces before the marriage can begin.

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Max Branning made his dramatic return to EastEnders tonight(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

Fans were left gob smacked at the end of today’s EastEnders episode, as Max Branning made his shock return in a jaw-dropping cliffhanger.

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It was the day of Lauren Branning and Peter Beale’s ‘surprise’ wedding, although it looked like things weren’t going to go ahead at first. As Lauren was left alone to get ready, she was seen storming out the house in a panic, where she bumped into Stacey Slater.

Speculation immediately exploded across fan forums and Twitter. Some believe Max has returned to expose a dark secret that would invalidate the marriage entirely. Others suggest he has unfinished business with certain residents of Walford, and the wedding was merely the perfect stage for his dramatic return. Theories range from hidden affairs to shocking paternity twists, with viewers dissecting every glance and line of dialogue in hopes of predicting the chaos to come.

Fan reactions have been nothing short of explosive. Twitter lit up within minutes of the episode’s end, with hashtags like #MaxBranning and #EastEndersWedding trending across the UK. Some praised the soap for pulling off a truly shocking twist, while others jokingly complained that Max had “ruined their Friday night plans” with his perfectly timed entrance. Memes, reaction gifs, and heated debates have dominated the conversation, proving once again that EastEnders still knows how to capture the nation’s attention.

After a heart to heart, in which Stacey reminisced on her time with Martin, Lauren changed her mind, and headed off to The Vic. She didn’t hide the fact she was about to run away during her vows, as she jokingly told Peter he was “more like Noel Edmonds than Noel Gallagher”.

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Max will come face to face with his ex Zoe later this week(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

Everything went perfectly, but of course, it was too good to be true. We’ve all watched soaps long enough by now to know no wedding ever goes smoothly, especially not on Albert Square.

A few weeks ago, Patrick and Yolande’s wedding reception was interrupted by a gunshot on the Square, in which Zoe Slater was shot.

The wedding itself had been hyped for weeks, billed as one of the soap’s most romantic and dramatic events of the year. Viewers tuned in expecting tears of joy, heartfelt vows, and maybe a small dose of drama.

Instead, they were hit with an unthinkable bombshell. Just as the vows were about to be exchanged, Max burst through the doors, his face set in grim determination.

Gasps filled the venue both on-screen and among fans at home, as the man believed to be long gone walked back into the lives of those who thought they’d left him behind.

Max’s return was timed with surgical precision, clearly orchestrated for maximum impact. The bride and groom froze, their joy replaced with shock and dread as the congregation erupted in whispers. For some characters, it was a moment of disbelief.

For others, it was pure anger. Old wounds were ripped open in an instant, with unresolved grudges and hidden truths bubbling back to the surface. The carefully constructed happiness of the day lay in tatters within seconds of his appearance.

Lauren’s wedding took a turn when she threw her bouquet to a bunch of single ladies at the end of the night. Ironically, she persuaded Stacey Slater to join the queue after their heart to heart, unbeknownst to what was about to happen next.

Unfortunately, no one caught the bouquet in the toss, and the residents got the shock of their life when Max Branning walked into his daughter’s wedding and picked it up off the floor.

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Max walked in during Lauren and Peter’s wedding(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

“Must be my lucky day!” he exclaimed, as the residents, including his daughter Lauren Branning and ex Stacey Slater watched on in shock.

The episode then ended on a dramatic cliffhanger, but luckily, we have spoilers that tease even more drama.

Spoilers for this week reveal that Kat warns Zoe off Max after spotting the pair talking. So far, none of the Slaters know about the pair’s former relationship, but is that all set to change?

A hush fell over Walford as EastEnders delivered one of its most jaw-dropping twists in years. The long-absent Max Branning stormed back onto Albert Square after four years away, and his explosive return came at the worst possible time—during a wedding that quickly spiraled into chaos. Fans, who had been eagerly awaiting the big ceremony, were left screaming at their screens as Max’s reappearance threatened to rip families apart and destroy relationships in a single night.

What made the cliffhanger even more devastating was the history Max carries with him. Longtime EastEnders viewers will never forget the Branning patriarch’s complicated past—his affairs, betrayals, and bitter feuds that left scars across the Square. His name alone still sends shivers down the spines of several residents. For some, his absence brought peace. His sudden re-entry, however, was like a storm hitting without warning. Fans took to social media to declare that Max had single-handedly “ruined everything,” and yet they admitted they couldn’t look away.

The raw emotion of the scene was amplified by the cast’s performances. The bride, visibly trembling, struggled to maintain composure as the man from her past threatened to shatter her future. The groom’s fury was barely contained, his clenched jaw and narrowed eyes hinting that a violent confrontation might be moments away. Family members stood torn between protecting their loved ones and bracing themselves for Max’s revelations. The tension was unbearable, with each passing second raising the question: Why had Max come back now?

Longtime viewers were especially struck by the weight of history carried into that single moment. For them, seeing Max stride back into Walford was like watching a ghost walk through the door. His past scandals, from affair storylines to betrayals, are etched into soap history. To see him re-emerge at a wedding—symbol of love and trust—felt like the ultimate act of disruption. The clash between his legacy and the new chapter of Walford life promises to deliver storytelling that keeps fans glued to their screens.

As the credits rolled, viewers were left with one burning question: What will Max do next? His re-entry was more than just a dramatic stunt—it was a declaration that the peace of Walford is over. With relationships on the line, secrets threatening to spill, and tensions reaching boiling point, the fallout from this ruined wedding could reshape the Brannings and the Square for years to come. For now, fans are left screaming into the void, desperate for the next episode, and grateful that EastEnders can still deliver shocks that feel both devastating and irresistible.

However, during the chat, it’s clear that Max’s attention is on Stacey, as he follows her back to number 31. But what will go down?

Zoe and Stacey aren’t the only residents Max has dramatic run ins with, as at the end of the week, Cindy learns Max is back, as she heads to see the man who killed his son, Steven.

Fans were over the moon to see Max return to Walford, as one penned: “When Max walked in omg! MY G IS BACKKK,” wrote one fan, while another penned: “What a Duff Duff! My favourite character Max Branning is officially back on Albert Square after 4 years away!”