EastEnders viewers are convinced that Max Branning will be returning to the soap in the not-so-near future and the actor has also hinted at this.
Earlier this year, it was announced that one male character will be killed off and there are six female suspects in the line-up, leaving viewers bewildered.
Fans saw Linda Carter, Sharon Watts, Stacey Slater, Denise Fox, Suki Panesar and Kathy Beale standing around a dead body looking on in shock.
While some of them appeared to be injured, covered in blood or had items of their clothing ripped, Denise was standing holding a broken champagne bottle.
But while the identity of the dead man is unconfirmed and the murderer is still unknown, one actor has hinted that he could be returning to the Square.
Meanwhile, some fans were left convinced that Max would be returning to help his brother Jack.
Speaking to the Mirror, actor Jake Wood explained: "They've (EastEnders) kept the door open and I'm very pleased with that.
"I've got other commitments at the moment and family commitments which I'm really enjoying seeing more of the family now than I did when I was on the show.
"I've got no plans to go back but as I said, they've kept the door open – never say never."
The star who recently completed his stint in 2:22 A Ghost Story alongside Cheryl Tweedy went on to explain that he was "eternally grateful" to EastEnders, adding: "It gave me amazing opportunities, I loved my time on the show, I made some great friends.
"I was there for 15 years, it was an incredible part of my life.
"I think in terms of that, never say never," he teased over a possible EastEnders return.
Meanwhile, Max's return has been "sealed" as boss Chris Clenshaw dropped a major hint after the flash-forward scene, with Max perhaps being Linda's knight in shining armour.
With so much reference to this knight in shining armour, and boss Chris hinting it was an unexpected person, some viewers are questioning if it could be Max.
Max fled Walford in 2021 after his romance with Linda broke down, while he remains unaware that she welcomed his daughter Annie months later.
Taking to Twitter, one fan said: "Is Max Branning the killer? Linda's unexpected knight in shining armour, and a knight stands behind Stacey in the flashforward."
Another said: "May take a bet on the dead fella being Max Branning, for reasons unknown. But the Knight in armour behind Stacey would normally be him, so maybe the blood on her hands is roping poor old @mrjakedwood back to E20 only for his demise."
