Stacey Dooley meets Jake Wood and Scott Maslen – Walford brothers Max and Jack Branning…

s Walford’s Branning brothers Max and Jack, actors Jake Wood and Scott Maslen have a mountain of memories, having joined the soap in 2006 and 2007 respectively. But there’s one moment that stands out for both of them.

In 2010, the pair were involved in Eastenders’ first live episode for the show’s 25th anniversary, and featured in a scene in which ex-cop Jack urged nephew Bradley to flee from Walford, being the prime suspect for Archie Mitchell’s murder.

Scott was an old hand at live TV, having starred in two live episodes during his time in ITV cop show The

Bill. But when the cameras started rolling, the pressure mounted and he fluffed his lines. Thankfully, 10 years on, he can see the funny side.

‘The mad thing was, because I’d done The Bill, I was the one telling people, “Be calm! Enjoy it!”’ Scott tells Stacey Dooley in this week’s

Eastenders: Secrets from the Square.

A‘Then we get to the first scene, pretty much, and Scott goes off-script,’ guffaws Jake. ‘He starts talking about the public!

‘I took him to one side afterwards and went, “Please, Scott, get it together. Are you all right? We’ve got another 25 minutes!”’

Jake and Scott’s obvious friendship is a delight to watch. On screen, of course, Max and Jack’s relationship hasn’t always been quite so jovial. When Jack first arrived in Walford, he was the ‘golden boy’ of the clan and their father Jim’s favourite son.

Storylines such as Jack’s relationship with Max’s former wife Tanya have certainly made for some heated scenes, while the pair have had more punch-ups than we care to remember – the latest one being on board the ill-fated Queen Vic boat party. But would we want it any other way?

‘Eastenders has always been a tradition in my family,’ says Scott. ‘The women love it and the men hate it! They’re always like, “When’s someone going to laugh?”

‘But that’s why people love it – because there’s no place more miserable!’ the warehouse robbery back in the spring, when they took the loot Danny had planned to pocket for himself.

Paul, 59, has been spotted filming at the soap’s Hertfordshire set, and it’s believed that the dramatic plot will play out over the autumn.

Hollyoaks is taking a summer break and is scheduled to return to C4 in September, but in the meantime fans can rewatch classic storylines on E4. This week, it’s back to 2002 for Lisa Hunter’s powerful self-harming storyline.

Doctors is also currently off-air, and is due to return to BBC1 in the autumn.