[Callum]

EastEnders bosses have announced that the soap will air five nights in a row for one week only in late November as Max Branning makes his long-awaited return to Albert Square.

In a huge set of episodes for the Branning family airing from November 21, Max (Jake Wood) will finally arrive back in Walford - joined by his fearsome older brother Derek (Jamie Foreman).

EastEnders fans will remember that Max left the Square in August after his affair with ex-wife Tanya was exposed. The businessman had been left stunned when Tanya (Jo Joyner) unexpectedly told him that she didn't want to be with him.

Max was unaware that a health scare was the real reason for Tanya's sudden u-turn, and she has since been receiving treatment for cervical cancer.

Max's return is likely to cause a stir within the Branning clan, while the surprise appearance of Derek will shock the entire family, who haven't seen him for years.

Derek has a reputation for being a destructive and dangerous man due to his past, so viewers will have to wait and see whether he has changed and if the Brannings will welcome him back into the fold.

In a further twist, the big week will also see Tanya reveal a long-held family secret - which will shock her mum Cora (Ann Mitchell) and sister Rainie (Tanya Franks) to the core.

An EastEnders insider teased: "Branning Week will see secrets and lies exposed which will rock the family in a week Walford is sure to remember."

EastEnders' Branning Week begins on Monday, November 21 with four further episodes airing on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The previous week will only see three episodes air due to Children In Need being broadcast on Friday, November 18.

The show has been really dire these past few months so hopefully this big week can turn things around

[Jords]

Lauren > Rainie > Rest

[Locke.]

Finally Max will be back

[Kerry]

Branning week. Most of the square then really

[Jordan.]

Poor Patrick wont be here to celebrate Maxs return.

[Kate!]

Patrick will be over the moon when he hears this.

[flamingGalah!]

Every episode seems to centre on the bloody Branning's... They are like the EastEnders Dingles...

[Callum]

EastEnders' Max Branning returns to Walford later this month - just as life for his family seems to be spiralling out of control.

While Tanya (Jo Joyner) is behaving erratically after deciding to stop her cancer treatment, Abi and Lauren are running wild - leaving Cora, Jack and Carol wondering what on earth has gone wrong in the family.

Just as Tanya finally decides to tackle Abi's rebellious antics, she receives a shock when Cora hands her a pregnancy test that she has found in Abi's bag.

When Tanya confronts Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald), there's a further surprise as Max (Jake Wood) arrives back unexpectedly - and he's not happy to see that life for the Brannings has descended into chaos in his absence…

An EastEnders insider commented: "Tanya is shocked when she sees the pregnancy test and it makes matters worse when Max arrives back. Abi tries to explain that the pregnancy test is Lola's, but will they believe her?"

Looking forward to it!

[Callum]