Eastenders is gearing up for its big New Year’s Day flashforward episode but first, Max Branning needs to get himself in even more trouble.

Max, who made his full-time return to Walford earlier this month, has already caused chaos by revealing to four-year-old Annie Carter that he is her biological father after her mother Linda finally told him the truth.

Then, after ruining his family’s Christmas dinner by starting a fight with his brother Jack, Max found a lonely Cindy Beale sitting in The Albert.

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The pair decided it would be best if they kept things anonymous, so after sharing a few drinks and then sleeping together, Cindy and Max said their goodbyes without realising who the other was.

All was revealed at the end of Monday’s episode when Max turned up at his grandson Jimmy’s christening, much to the shock of Cindy.

Cindy had been wanting to keep Max away from the christening, as she blames him for the death of her son Steven, so she was doubly shocked to realised that Max was her mysterious Christmas Day stranger.

On tonight’s episode (Tuesday 30 December) Cindy accused Max of knowing who she was before they had sex. Then, as Lauren and Peter had the grim realisation that their parents had slept together, Peter lashed out, punching Max in the face.

Outside the church, Lauren told her father she was sick of his sex life always ruining everything, while little Louie even told his grandad to “go away”.

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Back on the square, a depressed Max went to Harry’s Barn where he introduced himself to Nicola and flirted with her before Linda came in to find him.

Max confessed to Linda that his granddaughter AJ (Abi Jr) is now living with his ex Tanya because she went missing one night while he was meant to be looking after her.

He admitted that he’d left eight-year-old AJ alone while he went to ‘help’ a female neighbour and she’d wandered off from home.

While Linda was sympathetic to Max, he lashed out at her calling her “embarrassing” for always try to help people and offer advice.

Later, back at Peacock Palace, Max apologised to Linda and broke down while telling her he wanted to be there for both her and Annie.

But, when Linda comforted him, Max misread her signal and tried to kiss her, causing an angry Linda to tell him it’s no wonder people always assume the worst about his intentions.

Thursday’s episode (1 January) will centre on Max and is set one year in the future, when Max is in a very different place in his life.

With Max’s wedding already confirmed for the flashforward episode, we can only guess who the unlucky bride might be and what kind of trouble Max will manage to get himself in over the next 12 months.