Jake Wood recalls playing late Casualty characters before EastEnders stint
4 years ago
3 August 2020 - 11:00 AM

Jake Wood recalls playing late Casualty characters before EastEnders stint

Jake Wood played three \'Casualty\' characters in four years before joining \'EastEnders\' - and they all died.

The 48-year-old star has played Max Branning on the BBC One soap since 2006, but beforehand he had bit parts in the likes of \'Only Fools and Horses\', \'One Foot in the Grave\', \'Red Dwarf\' and \'Casualty\', on which his alter-egos always met their maker.

He said: "I started working professionally when I was about 10 and I was just a jobbing actor for years and years.

"I\'d do bits in \'EastEnders\', \'The Bill\', \'Casualty\'.

"I think I died three times on \'Casualty\' in the space of about four years."

Jake also played the small part of Jackson in \'EastEnders\' in March 1990, a character whose girlfriend Disa befriended Diane Butcher (Sophie Lawrence) - the daughter of Frank Butcher (Mike Reid) - when she ran away from home.

He explained: "I think it was when Diane Butcher ran away, she met this other girl called Disa who was living on the street. [My character] was Disa\'s boyfriend.

"That was 30 years ago, so I was probably 17, 18."

Since joining \'EastEnders\' in the mid-Noughties, one of Jake\'s biggest storylines saw Max have an affair with his son Bradley Branning\'s (Charlie Clements) wife Stacey Branning (Lacey Turner), which reached a climax on Christmas Day 2007 when their infidelity was revealed to the whole family.

Jake has now revealed the plot wasn\'t initially planned for the festive period, but the soap\'s bosses extended it to make a dramatic Christmas episode, and he thinks it "really paid off".

Speaking on tonight\'s (03.08.20) \'EastEnders: Secrets from the Square\', he added: "I remember that the Max/ Stacey affair, originally it was only going to be shorter,

"I think it was only going to be six months and they changed it.

"They extended it because they realised they wanted it to be the Christmas storyline."

You might like these
Lizzo faces hate after publicly supporting Chris Brown

Lizzo faces hate after publicly supporting Chris Brown

5 October 2021 - 10:26 AM

Lizzo faces hate after publicly supporting Chris Brown
Children In Need set for 10pm finish due to filming restrictions

Children In Need set for 10pm finish due to filming restrictions

2 October 2020 - 12:00 PM

Children In Need set for 10pm finish due to filming restrictions
Joey Essex 'splits from Brenda Santos'

Joey Essex 'splits from Brenda Santos'

2 October 2020 - 12:00 PM

Joey Essex 'splits from Brenda Santos'
Zara McDermott begs for Sam Thompson's forgiveness

Zara McDermott begs for Sam Thompson's forgiveness

2 October 2020 - 12:00 PM

Zara McDermott begs for Sam Thompson's forgiveness
Linda Robson's cancer gene fears

Linda Robson's cancer gene fears

2 October 2020 - 12:00 PM

Linda Robson's cancer gene fears

Isabella Rossellini to star in live action/stop motion blend
2 May 2025

Isabella Rossellini to star in live action/stop motion blend

Isabella Rossellini to star in live action/stop motion blend
'The Mastermind': First look at Josh O'Connor in new heist movie.
30 April 2025

'The Mastermind': First look at Josh O'Connor in new heist movie.

'The Mastermind': First look at Josh O'Connor in new heist movie.
'Now You See Me: Now You Don't’ shares first official trailer
29 April 2025

'Now You See Me: Now You Don't’ shares first official trailer

'Now You See Me: Now You Don't’ shares first official trailer
Dev Patel is working in his next film 'The Peasant'
28 April 2025

Dev Patel is working in his next film 'The Peasant'

Dev Patel is working in his next film 'The Peasant'
'Falling': Newest drama by Jack Thorne for Channel 4
25 April 2025

'Falling': Newest drama by Jack Thorne for Channel 4

'Falling': Newest drama by Jack Thorne for Channel 4
'Until Dawn' is premiering this Friday 25
23 April 2025

'Until Dawn' is premiering this Friday 25

'Until Dawn' is premiering this Friday 25
What we know about HBO's Harry Potter adaptation
17 April 2025

What we know about HBO's Harry Potter adaptation

What we know about HBO's Harry Potter adaptation
Taron Egerton to star in Apple TV+ 'Smoke' along Jurnee Smollett
15 April 2025

Taron Egerton to star in Apple TV+ 'Smoke' along Jurnee Smollett

Taron Egerton to star in Apple TV+ 'Smoke' along Jurnee Smollett
'The Roses': New black comedy starring Benedict Cumberbatch
14 April 2025

'The Roses': New black comedy starring Benedict Cumberbatch

'The Roses': New black comedy starring Benedict Cumberbatch
Philip Barantini could possibly direct 'The Alchemist' adaptation
13 April 2025

Philip Barantini could possibly direct 'The Alchemist' adaptation

Philip Barantini could possibly direct 'The Alchemist' adaptation
'Pride And Prejudice' is getting a new adaptation by Netflix
10 April 2025

'Pride And Prejudice' is getting a new adaptation by Netflix

'Pride And Prejudice' is getting a new adaptation by Netflix
'Fountain of Youth' is releasing May 23 on Apple TV+
2 April 2025

'Fountain of Youth' is releasing May 23 on Apple TV+

'Fountain of Youth' is releasing May 23 on Apple TV+
Statistic Statistic