Jake Wood is to take a "short" break from ‘EastEnders’.
The 46-year-old actor – who plays Max Branning in the BBC One soap – will depart Albert Square early next year when he heads off for a live tour with his boxing podcast ‘Pound for Pound’, which he hosts alongside former pro boxer Spencer Oliver.
An ‘EastEnders’ spokesperson told BANG Showbiz: "Jake will take some time off early next year, but he will return to filming after a short time away."
Jake took to Twitter to announce the tour, which will take place in January and February next year with the pair set to discuss their opinions on the latest boxing bouts and joined by numerous special guests.
He wrote: "Buzzing for this, gonna be so much fun. Can’t wait to get out on the road with @PoundPodcast @SpencerOliver (sic)"
The tour is scheduled to run for 14 dates, beginning at Old Town Hall in High Wycombe on January 19, and it will come to a close at London’s York Hall on February 22.
Jake is currently involved in a big storyline opposite Tanya Franks (Rainie Branning), after their characters tied the knot when Max agreed to pay the recovering heroin addict to marry him to help him get custody of his granddaughter, Abi.
But things look set to take a turn for the worst for the couple after Rainie cheated on Max with his brother Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) earlier this month.
Former ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ contestant Jake recently admitted he would quit ‘EastEnders’ if he didn’t feel he could give 100 per cent to the show.
He said: "That’s why I’ve been there 12 years – they always give me great stuff to do.
"No [I don’t get bored]. I never know what he’s going to do next. I’m just as interested and intrigued – he is a great character isn’t he?
"My approach is you just have to keep the intensity of the work going. You can’t take your foot off the pedal.
"It’s easy to get complacent – not just there but in any area.
"Unless I know that I can give it 100 per cent and I’m full in then I’d rather not be there."
Jake is no stranger to taking a break from ‘EastEnders’. In 2011, he took a four-month break from the show, and he was away from Albert Square for a year in 2015 when Max was wrongly sent to prison for the murder of Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater).
Jake Wood to take ‘short’ break from EastEnders
