Entertainment

New EastEnders pictures show Steven Beale and Max Branning storyline hotting up

It’s building up to Aaron Sidwell’s departure from the soap.
It’s building up to Aaron Sidwell’s departure from the soap. It’s building up to Aaron Sidwell’s departure from the soap.

EastEnders’ Steven Beale will find himself stuck between a rock and a hard place as he is confronted by Max Branning in fiery scenes airing next week.

After a failed attempt to get the upper hand, the tables turn for Steven (Aaron Sidwell) as he finds himself trapped by Max (Jake Wood), who threatens to reveal his brain tumour lie to Lauren Branning.

New photos reveal the clash from next Thursday night’s episode and show Max pinning Steven up against a wall as he attempts to blackmail him into helping with a risky task.

New EastEnders pictures show Steven Beale and Max Branning storyline hotting up
New EastEnders pictures show Steven Beale and Max Branning storyline hotting up (Jack Barnes/BBC / Jack Barnes)
(BBC One)

Viewers have watched in disbelief as Steven lied to Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) about having a brain tumour.

It comes as Sidwell revealed he was leaving the BBC One soap and told viewers they will “start to see the danger” in Steven as his storyline with Max hots up.

He returned to the soap last year after previously playing the character in 2008.

Sidwell told Lorraine host Christine Lampard – who is standing in for Lorraine Kelly on the ITV show – that Steven will become “a puppet”.

Aaron Sidwell leaving EastEnders
Aaron Sidwell leaving EastEnders
Aaron Sidwell (BBC)

He said: “That’s a great dynamic that’s not fully come into play yet, and Steven’s very much been the manipulator and now he is becoming manipulated.

“I think we are going to start to see the danger there now, because he’s completely out of control of the situation, he was any way, but now he’s not even running the show … he really does become the puppet.”

Sidwell will be going on to star as Fiyero in a forthcoming Wicked tour across the UK and Ireland following his exit from Albert Square.

:: EastEnders is next on BBC One on Monday at 8pm.