Max Branning (Jake Wood) has broken a fair few hearts in EastEnders, hasn’t he?

The wreckage he’s left in his wake rivals that of the deadliest soap disasters as his wandering eye has consistently lead to tears and devastation. We don’t frequently describe him as a ‘lothario’ for nothing, he’s more than earned his stripes after years of seducing, philandering and, well, more seducing.

Prone to itchy feet and following his…well, blood flow, no matter the consequences, Max has been different of late. The reason? Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

When Max returned to the Square, it was carnage. Rocking up at Lauren’s (Jacqueline Jossa) surprise wedding to Peter Beale (Thomas Law) unannounced and igniting a Slater civil war, he disappeared again straight after, further breaking son Oscar’s (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) heart.

When he came back, he brought fresh dramz for the Branning/Beale brigade. He indulged in some festive fisticuffs with brother Jack (Scott Maslen), learned of his secret daughter with Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), slept with Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) all before utterly ruining Lauren and Peter’s son, Jimmy’s christening.

While his family abandoned him, one person who refused to, and insisted on seeing the good deep down within him, was Linda. Even after he tried to throw the lips on her in a particularly vulnerable moment, she continued to try to remind him that a decent man lay within him.

When he attempted to flee on New Years Eve, hurt and alone following another rejection from his family, it was Linda who convinced him to stay and prove people wrong.

With Max living at Peacock’s Boutique Hotel (call it a B&B at your peril), he and Linda have been in each others orbit for a while while co-parenting Annie (Lois Hawkins). He even stepped up his support when it became clear that Linda’s son, Ollie (Harry Farr), is being bullied at school.

When he discovered that the culprit was grandson, Louie Beale (Jake McNally), he decided to sit on the truth, though, even after Linda made a move and kissed him.

Upon her discovery that he knew who was behind the bullying the entire time, though, Linda was sickened.

Literally. She told him that he made her sick.

Things next week remain frosty between the two, and even Max’s attempts to mediate the feud between Linda’s mum, Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) and Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) fails to thaw the ice. After declaring to Lauren just how strong his feelings toward Linda are, he makes another gesture by personally bringing Louie to apologise to Ollie. This tactic proves more successful, as Linda invites him to share a drink for the sake of their co-parenting relationship.

While Max sees this as Linda’s attempt to throw another log on the fire between them, she’s dead set on their relationship remaining platonic.