User:Bluebolt94/Branning Week

"Branning Week" is a series of 5 episodes of EastEnders broadcast from 21 to 25 November 2011. The week was dedicated to the return of Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Derek Branning (Jamie Foreman).

Plot summary
After Vanessa Gold (Zöe Lucker) discovers her fiancé, Max, is having affair with Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner), Max leaves in shame and doesn't return for nearly four months. Tanya's mother Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell) is kicked out of Dot Branning's (June Brown) house and arrives to live back with Tanya. Tanya's daughter, Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) who is desperate for a pair of shoes, steals them as Tanya refuses to buy them. Tanya starts to put up Christmas decorations, much to the confusion of the family and Abi continues to feel rejected. Tanya's other daughter, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) hasn't returned home overnight and panic is caused. and The police bring Abi home and Tanya starts to lash out at Abi after she finds a positive pregnancy test in Abi's back, however it belongs her friend Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold). Tanya continues to shout at the family and Max returns, having been called by his sister Carol (Lindsey Coulson). Max states that he came back for Tanya as Lauren says she is in trouble. Tanya denies this and tells him to leave. Derek Branning (Foreman) returns and introduces himself to everyone and reveals he has a fling with Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks) at Max and Tanya's wedding in 1994. He goes to see Pat Evans (Pam St. Clement) and she seems to be frightened of him and he starts to monologue and Carol returns and later kicks him out. Lauren returns and almost reveals that Tanya has cervical cancer but Tanya slaps her before she can finish. Max refuses to leave and Tanya physically throws him out. Still in shock, Tanya orders the rest to get out of the house and Lauren screams that she has cancer. Cora demands to know why Tanya has stopped her treatment and why she kept it a secret and says she didn't want the family to worry and that the treatment is a waste of time as it never did her father, Willam any good. Cora says he died peacefully but Tanya reveals that she helped him die because he was in pain. This devastates Cora and Tanya runs upstairs and locks herself in the bathroom. Tanya almost commits suicide by overdosing but instead falls asleep. Lauren runs out to Max who is about to leave and reveals Tanya's cancer to him. Max goes back to the house and kicks the bathroom door down and finds a sleeping Tanya, thinking she has overdosed. She denies she overdosed and goes into the bedroom. Max says he never stopped loving Tanya and he cannot leave her as he cares for her too much. Tanya later tells Cora that she help her father to die out of love. Cora forgives her and tells her to continue her treatment. Max and Tanya later kiss and forgive each other.

Background
It was announced that Jake Wood who portrays Max Branning will be returning to EastEnders after a five-month break. It was also announced that EastEnders would air for five nights in a row which was dubbed Branning Week. It is unknown to Max that his former wife Tanya (Jo Joyner) is suffering from cervical cancer. Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy said that Max is "likely to cause a stir within the Branning clan" while a surprise appearance from Max's brother will shock the entire family. It was also revealed that Tanya will reveal a lifelong family secret to her mother and sister Cora (Ann Mitchell) and Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks) respectively. An EastEnders insider added: "Branning Week will see secrets and lies exposed which will rock the family in a week Walford is sure to remember." Branning Week aired from 21 November until 25 November. This extra episode was due to the broadcast of Children in Need during EastEnders time-slot on 18 November the previous week.

Branning Week is aired to dedicate the return of Max and his brother Derek. Jake Wood took a four-month break from EastEnders in August 2011. The episodes saw the return of Max and his brother Derek (Foreman) who was last seen in 1996. Speaking of his return to EastEnders, Jake Wood said it's good to be back after such a long time. He added: "I had ten weeks off over the summer and it was a really good break. I felt like I needed it after five years of working hard. They wanted me to sign up for another two years, which I was really happy about, but I just felt like I needed a break before I got stuck into some more exciting storylines. It did me the world of good, to be honest. I'm fresh, raring to go and very excited about what's coming up!"

Jamie Foreman revealed what fans can expect from Derek's return. He commented: "There's always this little undercurrent of, 'This guy isn't who we want around for long', if you see what I mean. Derek's just come back from a 10-year prison sentence for armed robbery. He's a very complicated character, who could either be perceived as a bully or as someone who cares for his family very much." He continued: "You never quite know where you are with Derek. He took over from Jim as the head of the family when he was 14, while Jim was down the betting shop. Derek was the one who brought the money in and saw his siblings off to school in the morning. He sees himself as the father figure and it's hard for him to shake that off, even though they're all grown up. There's a nice conflict there."

Reception
Michael Cregan of Inside Soap said that the Branning Week was "an amazing set of episodes with shocking twists, dramatic returns, stunning revelations". He also added it was "everything that makes soap so addictive". He also praised Jo Joyner (Tanya Branning), Tanya Franks (Rainie Cross), and Ann Mitchell (Cora Cross) for their performances in the episodes. He said that viewers had "three stunning performances by the Cross women". He also commented: "The aftermath of Tanya’s revelation led to an emotional showdown between her and her mother, Cora. Ann Mitchell is an amazing actor, and it’s nice to see Cora being used so well. She’s proved that she isn’t a woman to be messed with, so it was a real surprise to see her vulnerable side as she listened to the story of her husband’s final moments. “I’m sorry for being who I am,” she said to Tanya, and it’s clear we’ve still got a lot to learn about Cora." Following the conclusion of Branning Week, Cregan said he "can’t wait to see what’s coming up next..."

Sean of TvTonight.co.uk said Branning Week is: "Sure to contain less laughter than 'Fresher’s Week', much rubbisher outfits than 'Fashion Week' and fewer posh people than 'Cowes Week'.