VERY mixed reaction from Easties fans as Max’s secret lover is revealed

We were already confused about Max Branning’s storyline. And last night’s episode left us scratching our barnet all the harder.

Poor Carmel has fallen for him hard and ended up engaging in some bedroom gymnastics in a hotel room, after he plied her with red wine.

Carmel has fallen hook, line and sinker for Max’s charms (Credit: BBC)

The rotter didn’t even have the decency to stay the night and left her alone in bed, sending a lame text that read: “You looked so beautiful*, I didn’t want to wake you. Hope there is a next time. x”

(*She looked anything but, slumped, slack-mouthed and snoring – in an even crueller dig.)

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Then we saw him arrive home to a seriously swanky pad, with shiny white surfaces everywhere and expensive looking candles burning.

Max signalled his arrival to someone, and a familiar voice called out to ask if he’d remembered to send “the text”.

It was Fi. FI!

She can probably smell Carmel on him! (Credit: BBC)

She strutted through and asked how his evening had gone, before pouring him a whiskey.

HE’S SO NOT QUIT BOOZING! More deceit. Does it never end?

She then proceeded to snog his face off.

Hot chemistry! (Credit: BBC)

So, they are in cahoots to screw Jack and Mick and probably everyone else in Albert Square – and have got into bed together in the literal sense too.

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But is that real – or are they secretly using each other?

Who knows, but this is definitely a lively turn-up for the books. And from the few minutes we saw of them on screen together, Jake Wood and Lisa Faulkner have some serious chemistry going on!

Fans were, for the most part, shocked.

Some were disappointed Fi isn’t paiting up with Jack. (Give it time…) Others felt she should be clawing at Mick. (He looked like he wouldn’t have minded last night…)

Some smarty pants claimed they had called it, of course.

We can’t wait to see where these two take the plot now…