Cindy Beale faces a reminder of a traumatic loss (Picture: BBC)Max Branning (Jake Wood) caused an awful lot of trouble before he left EastEnders in 2021. Max caused a lot of trouble before he left (Picture: BBC)Steven’s mum Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) has returned to Albert Square in the time Max has been away. In true soap style though, things are going to change this coming week, as Cindy comes face to face with the man who killed her son. Jasmine mentions to Cindy that Max is back (Picture: BBC)While Walford residents reel at Max’s return, Cindy is busy in The Albert with new employee Jasmine (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness). ‘When Stacey sees Max and Zoe kiss, it’s such a shock,’ Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, said.