EastEnders' Max Branning makes dangerous Amy decision in early iPlayer episode

EastEnders spoilers follow from Thursday's episode (22 October), which is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer but hasn't aired on BBC One yet.

EastEnders' Max Branning makes a disastrous decision tonight as he agrees to make an ominous financial deal with his niece Amy Mitchell.

Max faces a financial nightmare after Cindy Beale's meddling leaves him owing money to HMRC – and he also needs to secure her silence over his darkest secret.

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Cindy has just discovered that Max inadvertently left Zoe Slater to die in her tragic final moments last month.

In tense scenes tonight, desperate Max offers Cindy £50,000 if she'll agree not to tell Kat and Alfie Moon what she knows.

So, how will Max come up with the cash? An opportunity presents itself when Amy approaches him and mentions wanting to secure access to her inheritance.

With Amy aware that Max is in debt to HMRC, she offers to help him out financially if he assists her with getting access to the cash, which is currently held in a trust.

Max says he'll think about Amy's suggestion but realises something isn't quite right when he spots her getting into Craig Ingram's car.

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He briefly considers tipping off Jack that his daughter seems to be in trouble, but soon decides that his own problems are more important and agrees to the deal…

Next week's spoilers have already revealed a worrying outcome to Max's decision, as Amy disappears from the Square with Craig.

Show bosses have been working with Barnardo's and End Violence Against Women on Amy's dark storyline, which has seen Craig groom the teenager after gaining her trust and abusing his power when he was working as a police detective.

EastEnders' executive producer Ben Wadey recently said: "When telling a storyline like Amy's, we have a huge responsibility to highlight and raise awareness of the warning signs of grooming. We're grateful to be working with Barnardo's and End Violence Against Women to help us tell this story."

Lynn Perry, Barnardo’s Chief Executive, added: "We welcomed the opportunity to provide expert advice on this storyline - which is a powerful reminder that there is no stereotypical victim or perpetrator of grooming. Young people from all walks of life can be targeted and fall victim to controlling behaviour – and many are often unaware that they are being groomed."

EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.

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