By Joshua Halm

Copyright metro

Max Branning is back (Picture: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

EastEnders spoilers follow for Tuesday’s (September 30) episode that is now available to view on BBC iPlayer. The episode in question will air on BBC One on at 7:30pm.

Jaws all throughout the Queen Vic hit the floor as the legendary Max Branning (Jake Wood) finally set foot back in Walford for the first time in four years, right in time to scoop up daughter Lauren’s (Jacqueline Jossa) wedding bouquet after she threw it.

Todays visit to Walford picked up where yesterdays left off, with Peter Beale (Thomas Law) down on one knee after asking fiancée Lauren to marry him in a surprise ceremony. Though clearly rattled, Lauren said yes.

Back home, Lauren was clearly struggling to cope and after having her hair and makeup done by Denise (Diane Parish) and Kim Fox (Tameka Empson), she asked for some time alone to get dressed. Once the room was clear, Lauren struggled for breath, clearly starting to panic.

Lauren started to panic once alone (Picture: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

When Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth), Kim, Denise, Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) Anna (Molly Rainford) and Gina Knight (Francessca Henry) burst into the room, they found Lauren gone.

As Lauren desperately tried to flee the square, she was found by Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), who she finally opened up to, unsure if she could go through with the ceremony.

Back at the Slaters, Lauren admits that she’s unsure that Peter is what and who she wants. Wondering aloud if being happily married just isn’t a ‘Branning thing’, she acknowledges that she loves Peter, but questions whether she’s become boring due to being bored.

Stacey dished out some sage advice (Picture: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

Stacey opens up, too, revealing that she often felt the same about Martin Fowler (James Bye). She’d resisted settling with him, searching for excitement before realising that what she’d considered ‘boredom’ was actually comfort. Stacey then laid it out to Lauren: whether she married Peter or not, she needed to make a choice.

Lauren returned to the wedding party and got dressed, firm in her decision to go through with the ceremony. As she entered the Vic and made her way toward Peter, the officiant kicked off the proceedings.

As Peter spoke lovingly, having written his own vows, Lauren found herself put on the spot when she was asked if she had any words.

The wedding went well (Picture: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

Initially stumped, Lauren admitted to her earlier disappearing act, before declaring her love for Peter, echoing much of what Stacey had told her earlier. The two were finally pronounced husband and wife as their loved ones showered them in cheers.

As the party progressed, it came time for the bride to throw the bouquet and a line formed behind her, all desperate to net the flowers. Lauren, however, apparently has quite the formidable throw, as they landed on the floor by the door…

…just as Max Branning stepped in. Scooping down and picking the bouquet up, the lothario proclaimed that it must be his ‘lucky day’.

The patrons of the Vic were floored (Picture: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

Shock spread across the faces of the other patrons of the Vic, most notably Lauren and Stacey as Max’s return turned the vibe on its head.

The question isn’t who Max will clash with, but who he’ll clash with first.

Speaking previously, Thomas Law declared a feud would brew between his character and his new father-in-law: ‘There’s unfinished business there, absolutely. They do have a nice first engagement when they see each other, although Max comes in at a terrible time!

‘But I think that’s the first and only time that they’ll be civil with each other, because Max has done a lot of things wrong to Peter’s family, which has caused issues between the Beales and the Brannings. I would say Peter, now knowing that Max is back, wants revenge for things that happened when he was a kid and for everything Max has done to Lucy.

‘There’s a list of reasons that Peter could be annoyed at Max, so if Max pushes it to the limit, he’ll be in trouble. It was really good to play that with Jake.’

Max will also surely clash with the Slaters (Picture: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

Max is also sure to clash with ex lover Stacey, particularly when she discovers his more recent dalliance with her cousin Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan).

‘When Stacey sees Max and Zoe kiss, it’s such a shock,’ Lacey previously said. ‘She had no idea they knew each other, let alone that they were a couple, so I think she’s in such disbelief. She feels betrayed by Zoe, but she’s reminded that this is typical Max behaviour as it’s what he always does!’ Lacey said.

There’s also Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) waiting in the shadows, after Max killed her son, Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell).

It doesn’t seem as if anyone will be throwing a welcome home party for Max…