Linda and Lauren set out to destroy Max after Priya affair exposed in EastEnders

Hells bells? (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron) Oh messy, messy Max Branning (Jake Wood), always the architect of his own downfall in EastEnders. It really seemed like his heart lay with Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), and when he returned last year, it looked as though he was dead set on forging a genuine relationship between them, and despite facing a number of rejections from her, he refused to give up on them finally finding a happily ever after together. Well, until his perennially-undefeatable urges reared their hormonal heads once again, and he found himself doing the nasty with Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) in the office of the Albert. As Linda found herself a rebound in Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp), Max dove both feet first into his fledgling relationship with Cindy, despite most of the population of Albert Square making it clear that their relationship had become a joke amongst them. This narked Max off to the extent that he decided to drop to one knee and propose to Cindy, though her initial hesitancy sent him straight into the arms of Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan-Levy). Cindy later accepted his proposal, but Priya wasn’t prepared to let her bit of stuff get away so easily, and they’ve been carrying on behind Cindy’s back, until the return of Priya’s ex, Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara). Max has been cheating on Cindy since their engagement (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron) As of last week, the only person who knew the truth about Priya and Max was Jean Slater (Gillian Wright), until Ravi discovered his love’s sordid secret and looked to kill Max. Max’s backside was saved only by Priya and the revelation that she’s pregnant – though she of course elected to not tell Ravi that the baby is Max’s. Probably wise; if Ravi was willing to kill Max for conducting an affair with Priya, we dread to think what he’d do after finding out he’d impregnated her! Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. While all of that was going down, Linda was coming to the realisation that she may not have ever gotten over Max after all, and decided to tell him that she loved him, mere days before his wedding to Cindy. Better late than never, we suppose? Linda learns the truth… (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron) The day of the wedding arrives next week, and Max does a bunk, because, y’know, it’s Max. With Cindy more wrapped up with the fact that most of the Square have elected to attend Kim Fox and Howie Danes’ (Tameka Empson and Delroy Atkinson) wedding, Max finds his way to Peacock Palace and he and Linda begin to talk about her revelation. It wouldn’t be Max if he didn’t screw it up, though, would it? The two find themselves coming to blows when Linda discovers the affair with Priya, and he storms across to the car lot, where he gets into another row, this time with Priya herself who’s furious that Linda knows their secret. But she’s not the only one who knows… because Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) has overheard the entire thing. Is Max about to lose everything and everyone? (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron) Lauren is incandescent and swears to boycott the wedding due to her dad’s destructive behaviour, and he faces further wrath when he returns home with almost no time to spare until the wedding. He makes it to the wedding venue on time, but his face turns ashen when Linda turns up… …followed by Priya. With Michelle Collins recently promising that Cindy’s vengeance against Max will be positively apocalyptic, is that about to kick off next week? Is Max’s life about to crumble before his very eyes? Deals of the Day An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind Book Val d'Isère, Val Thorens and Tignes for less in Club Med's ski sale Save 25% on red light therapy masks, sauna blankets and sleep gadgets in Bon Charge sale The viral LED face mask with over 350 lights that's currently discounted by £100 A friend said I looked 'snatched' – I credit this new Charlotte Tilbury powder Arrow MORE: Are you a true fan? Test your knowledge with Metro’s weekly Soaps quiz! Arrow MORE: EastEnders wedding outcome ‘confirmed’ as new spoilers reveal what happens next Arrow MORE: EastEnders New Year shooter ‘confirmed’ as fans are on the case The Soaps Newsletter – Daily All the latest soaps spoilers and gossip, in your inbox every morning.