EastEnders star Jake Wood has revealed more details about his short-term departure from the soap.
The actor announced earlier this year that he would be taking a break from his character, Max Branning, so that he can take his boxing podcast Pound For Pound on a live tour.
The show will begin in High Wycombe in January before it tours around the country, finishing at the end of February in London’s York Hall.
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But what does Jake’s departure from the show mean for Max and Rainie’s custody battle for baby Abi?
Buzzing for this, gonna be so much fun. Can’t wait to get out on the road with @PoundPodcast @SpencerOliver 💪🏼 https://t.co/YrLetKdVWO
— Jake Wood (@mrjakedwood) September 26, 2018
There’s plenty of drama coming up for the couple next week as their marriage is exposed as a sham, before the fight with Cora for custody takes a dramatic turn and Rainie ends in hospital.
But Jake is adamant that his break from the show doesn’t mean it’s bad news for Max’s quest to bring his granddaughter home.
He told Digital Spy: “I don’t see why it can’t mean that there won’t be a happy ending with this. Personally, I’ve got my podcast tour in January and February so I just wanted to take some time out of the show to do that.
“I don’t know what they are planning and how Max will be written out through. I don’t think it means one thing or another.
“I don’t know if he will go with Rainie or what the plan is, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the story outcome is good or bad.”
Jake also revealed that he is hoping that Jacqueline Jossa will return to her role as Lauren Branning in the not too distant future…
“I would love her to return and always thought she would. Lauren hasn’t been killed off, and obviously Max is still in the show and she has a lot of other family in it as well.
Read more: EastEnders SPOILER: Max Branning furious as battle for baby Abi suffers setback
“It is like any other character out there – it’s always open. She just needed some time at home as a mum, which she has done.
“It will be up to her when she is ready. I don’t know whether that is now or not, but I would love her to come back. It would be great.”
EastEnders airs Monday and Friday at 8pm and Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
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