Category Entertainment News

EastEnders legend Jake Wood, who played Max Branning on the BBC One soap from 2006 until 2021, has made his epic return to the soap

Jake Wood has finally made his long-awaited return to EastEnders after four long years.

The actor, 53, who plays Albert Square’s biggest womaniser – Max Branning – has made an epic and unexpected return as viewers finally discovered who it Max behind the mysterious phonecalls being made to Zoe Slater following her recent return and reunion with estranged mum, Kat Slater.

When he left the BBC soap, Jake’s final scenes aired in February 2021, although it was previously announced in September 2020 that he would depart after 15 years on the show. Jake first appeared on Albert Square way back in 2006 when his character Max arrived with wife Tanya and their two daughters Lauren and Abbey.

Now that Jake has finally made his comeback to Walford, we take a look at his personal life behind-the-scenes when the cameras stop rolling.

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Marital bliss

Jake’s character Max is known for his lengthy string of complicated relationships, and difficulties keeping to one woman at a time.

However, the actor himself remains positively smitten with his loving wife of over 22 -ears, Alison Wood. The couple met back in 2001, when Jake was just 23, and have been by each other’s side ever since.

In 2017, the happy couple decided to celebrate their enduring love for each other by renewing their wedding vows in a festival-themed ceremony, surrounded by loved ones and, of course, plenty of fellow soap stars.

Opening up about the secret to their successful marriage, Jake told OK! Magazine: “We obviously love each other a lot but also we’ve always wanted the same things. You’ve got to work hard at it and you’ve got to talk. Alison’s taught me that.”

He added: “We always have a date night once a week when we just hang out, catch up and talk. It’s a chance for us to check in with one another to make sure we’re still on track.”

Jake shared a sweet black and white couple’s snap via Instagram, alongside the caption: “Wedding anniversary today, 22 years married to this incredible woman. We’ve had so much fun over the years, plenty more to come. Luckiest man.”

Family life

Life in the Branning household was certainly eventful, with poor Max even having to suffer through being buried alive in a coffin by vengeful wife Tanya (Jo Joyner).

Luckily, Jake’s family life away from the ups and downs of Walford appears to be much more harmonious. Jake and Alison live in Hertfordshire with their teenage children Amber and Buster, and their two adorable dogs, Buddy and Chip.

Sharing an Instagram pic of daughter Amber to mark her 18th birthday, the proud dad wrote: “Happy birthday you amazing human being – we are so proud of the kind, caring and effortlessly cool and stylish person that you are – you keep being you Amber we love you.”

Jake regularly shares family updates with his wife and children, and just a couple of weeks ago, the actor posted a series of snaps from their summer of fun which included wholesome family hikes, BBQ’s, and karaoke nights.

Incredible talent

While Jake has won many an award for his incredible acting skills, the soap star also has another amazing talent up his sleeve.

In an unexpected turn of events, Jake revealed his incredible artwork and his amazing creative talent after leaving EastEnders.

The actor made his debut in the art world at a gallery soft launch in St Albans in March 2025, displaying his artwork and offering signed prints. His first original piece, titled ‘CHILL WINSTON’, was purchased by actor Ray Winstone.

Millionaire status

Jake earned himself an impressive £1m the year after leaving the popular BBC soap.

The Max Branning actor managed to boost his bank balance without appearing on television – with the actor raking it in thanks to stints on the stage and some lucrative audio projects.

Jake quit EastEnders in 2020, explaining at the time that he was excited “to see what new horizons are around the corner.” And after his final scenes aired in early 2021, the popular actor kept himself busy – with his new projects proving to be financially beneficial.

After departing Albert Square, he launched a well-liked podcast, showed off his acting skills in the spine-chilling West End play called 2:22: A Ghost Story, and even bagged roles in Christmas pantomimes.

The company Jake runs with his business partner showed in 2024 that they had cash savings of over £200,000 in 2022. They also paid a hefty Corporation Tax bill of £169,151. This suggests Jake made about £1m that year! But there wasn’t any champagne flowing to celebrate as Jake gave up drinking 22 years ago.

Sobriety milestone

In 2023 Jake shared an update on his sobriety milestone. On New Year’s Day, he said: “I am 20 years sober tonight. So proud of myself and for anyone out there on a similar journey.”

He also sent a supportive message to others going through the same thing, saying: “If you are struggling there is help out there, please reach out and believe me if I did it you can too. Sending you all love and strength and a happy and healthy 2024.”

Holiday horror

Back in 2019, Jake opened up about his holiday horror when his wife was almost eaten alive by an alligator.

The EastEnders star was on holiday with his wife Alison and their children Buster and Amber when they came face-to-face with the terrifying creature. The soap star said he was on a boat in the Florida Everglades with his family when Alison decided to jump into the water, only to be confronted by the horrifying beast.

Jake, Buster and Amber were left looking on in horror as the alligator began heading for Alison. They screamed for her to climb back into the boat as their trip almost turned into tragedy.

Opening up about the horrific scare at the time, Jake revealed: “I almost lost my wife to an alligator in Florida.” He said when he first saw the alligator it was 15 feet away from his wife, but that he panicked when he saw it suddenly coming towards her.

“So I’m looking at it and thinking, ‘It’s got to be a log or something. Got to be a log’. All of a sudden it f***ing goes down and I f***ing see an eye. All the kids are screaming, I’m screaming, ‘Get back in the boat’.

“As soon as an alligator goes underwater you don’t know where it is, it was horrible. It was only about 15 feet away.”

Jake said he and his loved ones only realised how lucky they had been when they returned to the shop they’d hired the boat from and shared their story.

A shocked staff member told them he’d never go in the water, describing the alligator they’d encountered as a “maneater”. The terrifying incident took place in 2014, but Jake says it’s something that will always stay with his children.

“Good story,” he added. “Although it did scar the kids for life.” Jake admitted just thinking about the encounter now makes him “squiffy”.

Career since EastEnders

In 2023, Jake reprised his role of Ben in the critically acclaimed supernatural theatre production 2:22 A Ghost Story. He was called in to replace actor Hugo Chegwin who fell ill last minute, leading to casting chaos before its official opening night.

In an exclusive interview with the Mirror, Jake warmly praised co-star Cheryl’s West End debut performance, hailing her the Girls Aloud singer as “fearless”.

He continued: “It’s quite remarkable to see someone who has never acted before come on stage at the West End, she is in the spotlight, with all that pressure. It’s quite amazing how resilient she is, really. And she is giving amazing performances, people are blown away by how good she is.”

Jake was among the original cast members of 2:22 A Ghost Story when it first opened in the summer of 2021, with his performance earning him the What’s On Stage Award for Best Supporting Actor. During an appearance on Loose Women in 2023, Jake remarked that he would be for a return to soap acting but appeared to be more interested in rival show Coronation Street.

No doubt dismaying many EastEnders fans, Jake proceeded to hint: “If they asked me if I would do another soap, then I would – when I was a young actor, I did a lot of northern parts. Yeah, people used to think I was from Manchester when I was younger – I love Corrie, so if they’re listening, give me a call.”

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For the new Prime Video series, Tomb Raider’s new star has been revealed, and the popular actress will take over the role of Lara Croft.

Prime Video has confirmed the latest actress to play the iconic role of Lara Croft in upcoming new series Tomb Raider. The long-awaited announcement has left eager fans on tenterhooks as to who will take on the role that was previously perfectly portrayed by Angelina Jolie.

Bosses have revealed that Sophie Turner has been names as the person to take on the role and has admitted she can’t wait to get going as the video game character that has also been portrayed previously by Alicia Vikander.

The 29-year-old Game of Thrones actor stated in a statement that he is “excited beyond measure to be playing Lara Croft.” She is a very well-known character that affects so many people, and I’m giving everything I can.

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We (and Lara) are all in very safe hands with them because they are massive shoes to fill, following in the footsteps of Angelina and Alicia with their incredible performances. I’m eager to see what we have prepared for you all.

After putting together Lara Croft, Sophie reportedly entered the casting negotiations for the part in November. The casting was also praised by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who serves as co-showrunner, writer, executive producer, and creator.

She expressed her excitement by announcing the formidable Sophie Turner as our Lara alongside this incredible creative team. Making a show of this caliber with a character you grew up adoring is rare.

“Everyone on board is incredibly passionate about Lara, and they are all just as outrageous, brave, and hilarious as she is.” Get your antiques discovered because Croft is on the horizon.

Chad Hodge will take over the co-showrunner and executive producer duties, while Jonathan Van Tulleken will serve as executive producer and director. According to Amazon MGM Studio, production for the show is scheduled to begin on January 19, 2026.

According to Vernon Sanders, head of global television at Prime Video &amp and Amazon MGM Studios, “Lara Croft is one of the most recognizable and iconic video game characters of all time.” “We are thrilled that Sophie Turner’s extraordinarily talented portrayal of this person, who is known for her bravery, strength, and unwavering resolve, come to life.” This series, under the direction of legendary Tomb Raider creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, will bring new adventures to fans all over the world.

Tomb Raider the series is based on the iconic Tomb Raider video game franchise, which follows the adventures of world-famous archaeologist and adventurer Lara Croft. The fictional British archaeologist sets off on adventures around the world to search for lost artefacts, while she also heads deep into dangerous tombs, crypts and ruins in her quest.

Angelina previously acknowledged that she initially found the games grating after portraying the character in the 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. She explained how Jonny Lee Miller, her first husband, introduced her to the games in a previous interview with the BBC.

She later said, “Maybe something happened when Jonny started playing it years ago and I just hatched this woman because she kept my husband awake all night at the time.”

I kill her constantly, which I enjoy because she makes these small sounds that I enjoy playing. “I’m actually terrible at the game,” she says.

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The Oodie has a major sale going on, including the iconic Oodies, which are now less expensive than Marks &amp and Spencer’s cozy alternatives.

Oodie just announced a sizable sale that will save 70% on their most popular cozy hoodies. It’s the ideal time to snuggle up in comfort while saving a lot on Oodie’s famous wearable blankets because it’s getting warmer outside.

They have a pocket big enough for snacks, pets, and other necessities for lazy days and are incredibly snug and large. The kids are winning this winter with some child-size Oodies reduced from £33.50 as the brand “bids farewell” to selected Disney characters, the epitome of warm-and-fuzzy happiness.

For instance, the price of The Winnie Rainbow Oodie has recently been drastically reduced from £45 to £13.50, saving an incredible £31.50. The price of competitors’ £25 M&amp and S Snuggle hooded blanket, which is now officially licensed Disney, is a bargain.

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For a reduced price of £13.50, the Winnie Rainbow Kids Oodie also offers Pooh and Eeyore for children who adore vibrant colors. All designs are suitable for wearers between the ages of 7 and 13 and have an extra-large pocket for everything you need.

With up to 50% off selected adult-sized Oodies and other items, the Oodie sale is also a success for adults. The Mickey Mouse Pink Oodie is now only £46 off, down from £75 to £29, according to Chronicle Live, making it ideal for Disney fans.

The Inside Out 2 Reversible Oodie is also less expensive, giving fans a two-in-one trend with a different design on either side.

The Avocado Oodie has also been reduced from £65 to £39 elsewhere on the website. The mouth-watering avocado prints are present in the mint green hooded blanket, which is available in either S/M or OOD (one size fits all).

Blue Tie-Dye, Elephants, Plants, and other striking colors, such as grey, blue, and pink, are other standout options for capturing the warmth. Prices start at £45.50, as well as snuggle-worthy Sherpa blankets at £55.20, for ultra-cosy dressing gowns.

There are plenty of similar options to choose from if the Oodie doesn’t quite hit the mark. The Teddy Oversized Blanket Hoodie from Dunelm is sold for 16 pounds in seven different colors. Although they are lighter than the Oodie, they still appear toasty, with customers describing them as “nice and warm” and “perfect for the cold.”

The Silentnight Heat Genie Self Heating Oversized Hoodie is available on Amazon for just £20 for those who really struggle with the chill. No need for electrical power, it is made from snug fleece fabric and has a unique heat-reflecting foil layer that bounces back body heat for added cosiness.

Oodies continue to appeal to fans of all ages. One customer wrote: “I love my Oodie and can’t believe how thick and warm it is!” A necessity for those cold winter nights and days”! Another chimed in, “I’m obsessed with it.” It’s where I live. The quality and speed of the delivery were outstanding. It’s so cozy and warm.

One customer even cited a savings of money: “My heater is no longer used at home.” When I wear my Oodie, I typically experience cold but not when I don’t! Whether I’m sitting or standing, it keeps me warm. I’m hoping to lower my monthly electricity bill.

The kids love them too, with one grandparent explaining: “This was part of my grandaughters Christmas haul. She put it on Christmas Day afternoon, her Mum had to bribe her to take it off so she could wash it. The quality of this Oodie is second to none. Worth every penny and more.”

Although there were few negative comments, one buyer suggested that the Oodie could be “just a little bigger and heavier” and that the pocket placement could be improved.

This Oodie is so cozy, cozy, and light that I have put it on every evening when I get home, according to another five-star review. I save money on heating power bills by switching off the heating on some nights. My cat and dog are “obsessed with it” and “want to snuggle up on my lap all night”!

Taylor Swift made the announcement about their engagement last week, and Travis Kelce, a former Kansas City Chiefs player, has his first guest appearance on his podcast.

American football star Travis Kelce has admitted he still gets a thrill from telling people about his engagement to pop sensation Taylor Swift, and referring to her as his fiancée.

The Kansas City Chiefs player and the chart-topping singer have been an item since 2023, with the pair announcing their engagement in a post last week that garnered millions of likes globally.

Speaking on the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother Jason Kelce, Travis opened up about the engagement for the first time since the announcement and even offered some pearls of wisdom to those contemplating popping the question.

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When asked if Swift’s fiancee would feel different, Kelce responded, “Yes, 100%. I thought it was my first time introducing Taylor as my fiancée to a few of my teammates during the game. It was quite cool.

“I still feel excited.” It’s exciting times, and I adore it. I appreciate everyone who reached out and sent a message, as well as all the posts and the ongoing excitement.

“It’s been really enjoyable to let everyone know who I’m going to spend the rest of my life.”

The NFL star also had some advice for listeners considering a proposal, urging them to do what feels right for them and their partner. He added: “You got to know your gal. You got to know your gal or your significant other.

You’ve got to know them, I say. You can’t allow how someone else acts make you feel compelled to do it.

“I would just say, get to know your partner, get to know who you’re working with, and get to know your goals.” The rest will be beautiful as well.

Kelce acknowledged that he hadn’t “thought about it one second” when being asked about a stag party and potential invitees.

The duo’s shared Instagram post on 26 August, announcing their engagement, featured a series of snaps with Kelce on bended knee and the couple amidst a sea of flowers. The caption read: “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married”.

Travis also admitted to having rejected his initial proposal. He revealed that Taylor had originally planned to propose to him on the water, but a trusted advisor “warned” him against doing so.

The podcast’s producer explained in detail how the awkward situation was, “My head was bobbing up in the water, holding the ring while kick your little feet against the current.” Don’t suggest it. Travis performed it on-site. much safer.

Travis responded, “I was warned, I was warned.” You did it, despite my earlier attempts to do it on water. You exhibited heart.”

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A woman dubbed the ‘Ketamine Queen’ has pleaded guilty to selling a fatal dose of the drug to actor Matthew Perry. The Friends star died aged 54 in October 2023.

Jasveen Sangha, 42, who is a citizen of the UK and the US, had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge but has since changed her plea. She becomes the fifth and final defendant to be charged over the death of the Hollywood star.

Sangha signed a statement to change her plea after agreeing a deal with prosecutors. It comes weeks before her trial was due to start. She pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of ketamine resulting in death.

Her lawyer, Mark Geragos said in a brief statement following the deal: “She’s taking responsibility for her actions.” She had previously denied the charges, as she was set to face five counts of ketamine distribution, including one count of distribution resulting in death.

Prior to her change of plea, her defence team had requested her trial to be delayed on four occasions as they wanted more time to examine evidence.

The drug dealer could get a sentence of up to 45 years in prison, with the judge not bound to follow any terms of the plea agreement. However, prosecutors have said they will request less than the maximum. Her sentencing is scheduled for December.

To date, none of the co-defendants have been sentenced. Dr Salvador Plasencia also pleaded guilty in July, while Dr Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa and Erik Fleming pleaded guilty in exchange for their cooperation.

The actor died in October 2023 aged 54. The star was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his home in the Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. It was later found that he had overdosed on the drug ketamine. A post-mortem confirmed Perry drowned in his hot tub after taking a lethal dose of ketamine, a powerful anaesthetic increasingly used in mental health treatment.

Investigators say the actor had been undergoing ketamine therapy for depression through legal prescriptions but was taking it up to eight times a day and began seeking additional supplies illicitly.

Court documents allege the actor turned to Sangha after his physician, Dr Salvador Plasencia, refused to continue prescribing high volumes of the drug.

In his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry wrote candidly about his decades-long struggle with substance abuse, including multiple stints in rehab and near-death experiences.

He was best known for playing the iconic role of Chandler Bing in the long-running sitcom Friends. He had battled addiction for much of his adult life.

Speaking about his addiction, Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston recently told US magazine Vanity Fair: “We did everything we could when we could. But it almost felt like we’d been mourning Matthew for a long time because his battle with that disease was a really hard one for him to fight.

“As hard as it was for all of us and for the fans, there’s a part of me that thinks this is better. I’m glad he’s out of that pain.”

She went on: “What helped raise me is something I got to put into the world and help other people. If (Friends) was the only thing on my resume, I would be very happy and blessed.”

Aniston took on the role of Rachel Green in the hit US sitcom, which also starred Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc.

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