EastEnders fans have been left saying the same thing after spotting Jake Wood with a full head of hair in throwback snaps from his acting days before landing the role of Max Branning.
Jake Wood is currently at the centre of a gripping EastEnders storyline as Walford businessman Max Branning. The Albert Square resident was recently blackmailed by his estranged wife Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) after she learned that he was the last person to see Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) alive before her tragic death last month.
Max's current storyline
Max offered Cindy £50,000 to keep his secret and he later struck up a deal with his niece Amy Michell (Ellie Dadd) to help her get her money left in a trust fund. He agreed to sign the forms to release Amy's inheritance, but only after she agreed to tell her dad Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) about her secret romance with his former colleague Craig Ingram (Matthew James-Bailey).
However, when Max met Jack, their conversation was cut short when Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) arrived telling them he saw Amy and Craig preparing to leave Walford. Max and Jack raced across the Square but they were too late to stop the pair speeding away.
During Tuesday's (October 27) episode, Jack launched a search with police assistance. As Jack and Max investigate, Max received the money Amy promised him and paid off Cindy. The brothers later broke into Craig's flat and as Jack becomes increasingly convinced Craig is responsible for Amy's recent behaviour, Max was forced to reveal he helped Amy access her trust fund, leaving Jack furious.
Fans react to throwback photos
As fans wait to find out if Jack is able to forgive his brother, old pictures of actor Jake Wood have resurfaced online showing him sporting a full head of hair. Taking to Reddit, one fan shared a throwback snap of Jake in one of his past acting roles alongside the comment: "Just seen this photo of a young Jake Wood and wow, never realised just how much he looks like Oscar until now. You can really see the resemblance in this photo."
Another added: "I can see Oscar. It's a surprisingly good match for on screen father and son." A third person said: "I have to remind myself they aren't actually father and son." Someone else agreed: "Cor he actually really does look like Oscar in his younger days!" A fifth said: "He has aged like fine wine."
Oscar Branning's future
Pierre Counihan-Moullier joined the cast of EastEnders last year as Max's son Oscar, taking over the role after the character's eight-year absence. However, it has been reported that he will be leaving the soap in 2027. A source told The Sun: "The fans love Pierre, so this is a huge blow to the show. Everyone's now hoping that the rest of the cast will sit tight for a while." The BBC declined to comment.
It has already been confirmed that the Brannings take centre stage in the New Year's Day episode which will focus on a high-stakes hostage and revenge plot targeting Max. During a flashforward episode which aired on January 1 this year, Oscar and his sister Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) are held at gunpoint by an unknown assailant.
Max receives a photo of his children tied up and is given an ultimatum demanding he choose which one of them lives or dies. Earlier in the episode, he faced severe police action, including being arrested for solicitation to murder, but fans will have to wait and see exactly what happens. EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 6am.
