Who Did Max Branning Kill? EastEnders Confirms Showdown Over Steven Beale’s Death
EastEnders is revisiting one of its darkest chapters as Max Branning (Jake Wood) faces the wrath of Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) over the death of her son Steven.
Cindy vs. Max: A Long-Awaited Confrontation
In Thursday’s (October 2) episode, spoilers confirm that Cindy will finally come face to face with Max at The Vic after learning of his return from Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness).
Max has no idea that Cindy blames him for Steven’s death back in 2017 — but the truth is about to come crashing down, promising explosive scenes for Albert Square.
The Night Steven Died
Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell) was caught in Max’s twisted revenge plot against the Beales, which stemmed from Max being wrongly imprisoned for Lucy Beale’s murder.
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Steven had been cheating on Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) with her sister Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald), leading to Abi’s pregnancy.
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To cover his lies, Steven pretended he had a brain tumour — a deception that further enraged Max.
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Discovering Steven’s betrayal, Max blackmailed him into helping burn down the Beales’ restaurant.
But when the fire broke out, Steven was trapped. In the chaos, Max attacked him, leaving Steven fatally injured.
Though he was rushed to hospital, Steven later died of cardiac arrest. His funeral exposed both his lies and affair, leaving devastation across Walford.
Max’s Guilt and Jake Wood’s Take
While many fans view Steven’s death as outright murder, Jake Wood has suggested that Max’s role was more of a tragic accident. In a recent interview, he admitted that Max’s attack set the chain of events in motion but insisted the character didn’t mean to kill Steven.
Still, the truth remains: Steven’s blood is on Max’s hands.
What Happens Next?
Now, with Max back in Walford, Cindy finally has her chance to confront the man she sees as her son’s killer. And with emotions already running high following Lauren and Peter’s wedding drama, viewers can expect fireworks when Cindy and Max lock horns.
The big question is — will Cindy’s fury tear the Brannings and Beales apart all over again?