This article includes discussion of child grooming and abuse that some readers may find upsetting.
Max Branning (Jake Wood) was drawn into niece Amy Mitchell's (Ellie Dadd) dark storyline in Thursday's (22nd October 2026) EastEnders – and he might just have hit a new low.
With Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) having exposed Max's secret New Zealand property, he was soon taken to task by HMRC for his deception over his finances.
But there was a bigger problem for the serial liar when Cindy demanded answers over Max leaving Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) for dead, reminding him that he had done the same thing to her late son Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell).
Too absorbed in his tangled love life, Max assumed that a dizzy Zoe, who had a head injury, was drunk when she pleaded for help.
In the aftermath, his conscience had barely kicked in for 5 minutes when, true to form, Max decided to cover up his involvement.
But Zoe's heartbroken mum Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) is out for blood, and Cindy threatened to tell her everything.
Desperate Max offered Cindy £50,000 for her silence – but thanks to daughter Lauren Beale (Jacqueline Jossa) putting her foot down, he couldn't get the money from the car lot.
However, after keeping up appearances with an oblivious Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) via video call and trying his luck for a dodgy deal with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), Max spotted an opportunity when Phil updated him about Amy's trust fund request.
Max's signature is required in order for Amy to access her inheritance, but her desire to spend it early is all down to evil DC Craig Ingram (Matthew James-Bailey), who is grooming Amy and has pressured her to leave Walford with him.
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Amy tried to make amends to Denzel Fox-Danes (Jaden Ladega) for the blackmail plot, which was actually Craig's doing.
Denzel's dad Howie (Delroy Atkinson) and stepmum Kim (Tameka Empson) were adamant that they'd report her to the police if their son's signet ring wasn't returned.
Amy managed to get it back, but while Denzel sensed there was something more going on and tried to press her, Amy got a call from Max and fled.
Max was suspicious to hear that she was as desperate as him for some serious money, and Amy promised to help with his debt to HMRC if Max signed over the trust fund.
But Max then spotted a retreating Amy getting into Craig's car, leading him to leave his brother Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) an urgent message.
Just as it looked like Max was going to do the right thing, he decided to keep quiet about Craig, fearing it would put a stop to him getting the cash to pay off Cindy.
Even worse, Max later told Amy that he would help her with her trust fund, so long as they kept it a secret!
Will Max really allow Amy to remain in danger just to suit himself?
EastEnders is working with Barnardo's and End Violence Against Women on Amy's hard-hitting storyline. Anyone affected can also reach out to NSPCC.
Read more:
- EastEnders airs blackmail horror for Denzel Danes in cruel Craig Ingram twist in early BBC iPlayer release
- EastEnders legend Jo Joyner returns to Walford set for Branning 'family reunion' - 8 years after last Tanya appearance
- EastEnders star teases "fire and carnage" when Penny Branning's baby paternity secret is revealed
- EastEnders favourite Balvinder Sopal teases Ash return is "grenade" to the Panesar family unit this autumn
- EastEnders announces hard-hitting Amy Mitchell storyline as BBC soap works with charities
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