Jake Wood: 'Max has changed'

Jake Wood has said his EastEnders character Max Branning has turned over a new leaf.

Max cheated on wife Tanya (Jo Joyner) with daughter-in-law Stacey (Lacey Turner), prompting her to drug him and bury him alive.

However, Wood said Max is determined to make a fresh start after leaving Walford to give Tanya a chance to recover from her broken heart.

He told TV Times: "He's made every effort to clean up his act while he was away; he claims to be a new man.

"Everyone's got the ability to change. When someone goes through very traumatic events, like the burial stuff, it can have repercussions for the future, good or bad."

Wood recently returned to filming following his period of paternity leave which saw the birth of son Buster with wife Alison. He returns to screens on June 23.