The truth is a ticking time-bomb for Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) in EastEnders, and it is set to explode sooner rather than later…
With baby Jimmy’s christening fast approaching, Cindy has made it abundantly clear that she won’t be attending if it means bumping into Max.
Little does she know, they’ve already been acquainted… intimately…
After getting absolutely hammered on Christmas Day, Max and Cindy found themselves getting hot and heavy as they shared an anonymous encounter, agreeing that it was probably best if they didn’t know anything about each other.
Cindy is known to have a penchant for the dramatics, but for once she is justified in her demands that Max stay away from Jimmy’s christening. After all, he did cause the death of her son.
In a plot to destroy all those responsible for framing him for the murder of Lucy Beale, Max targeted Jane Beale – initially the only person who knew that the true culprit was Bobby Beale.
He blackmailed Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell) into setting Ian Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt) restaurant on fire, while Max held Jane hostage inside. Steven, however, had a change of heart and tried to go back into the burning building to rescue Jane. It was this moment that ultimately led to his death, which occurred in hospital after Max shoved him into a counter top, gravely injuring him.
Tragically, Cindy never got to see Steven again before his death, as she was living in witness protection after snitching on her cellmate in prison.
It’s no wonder she harbours resentment to her grandson’s maternal grandfather, and we doubt she’d be able to hold herself back should she meet him.
Of course, this is EastEnders, and it’s only a matter of time until these two enemies cross paths.
That doesn’t stop Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Peter Beale (Thomas Law) from at least trying to prevent the inevitable, though. Given Max’s behaviour at Christmas, they make the decision to uninvite him from the christening for the sake of keeping the peace.
However, when Max buys Jimmy a thoughtful gift and appears visibly upset by the idea of not being involved in the celebration, Lauren begins to have second thoughts.
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When word reaches Cindy that Lauren has re-invited her dad, she refuses to attend.
Thankfully, this back and forth is brought to a prompt halt when the decision is taken out of Lauren and Peter’s hands, with Max swiftly finding himself NFI (that’s ‘Not flipping invited’, if you’re unfamiliar with Tiffany Butcher’s iconic line), after Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) drops a bombshell.
Obviously, Max is a law unto himself, so the measly issue of his entire family wanting him to stay away does nothing to deter him from showing up at the church, sending Lauren and Peter’s day from bad to worse. So, so much worse.
‘There’s Cindy, who blames Max for her son Steven’s death and his involvement with Lucy,’ actor Jake Wood said, ‘so there has to be a showdown between the pair which we will see at Jimmy’s christening.’
As Cindy and Max come face to face in front of their extended families, the penny finally drops and utter chaos ensues, with the entire congregation left reeling at the revelation that Max and Cindy have slept together.
How will the rest of this reunion play out?
