Jake Wood reveals his EastEnders besties

(Image credit: BBC/Jack Barnes)

EastEnders star Jake Wood has revealed that he would love to swap places with Steve McFadden.

The 40-year-old actor, who plays salesman Max Branning in the BBC soap, admitted that he wouldn't mind having a go at portraying hardman Phil Mitchell, who co-star Steve plays.

"It would have to be Phil Mitchell. Another iconic character who has always been involved in great storylines," he said in a Twitter chat.

Jake also said that he would like to bring back Leslie Grantham and Anita Dobson to reprise their famous roles as 'Dirty' Den and Angie Watts, if he had the choice.

"They were iconic characters when I was growing up. I remember them the most," he said.

The actor, who joined the show in June 2006, revealed he will miss Jo Joyner - who played his screen wife Tanya Branning - and Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) when they leave.

"I'm closest to Jo Joyner. We've got great chemistry and she's great to work with. I'll miss her as we've been working together for seven years. [Tanya and Max are the] classic couple. Can't live with each other, can't live without each other!" he explained.

"I'll miss Scott's sense of humour and the banter. We get on really well. He's good fun on set," he added.

Jake also admitted that his co-star June Brown (Dot Cotton) keeps his spirits up on set.

"June Brown always makes me laugh. Working with her is the highlight of my  day. She's a legend," he said.

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.