EastEnders: Everything you need to know about the soap's most ambitious storyline ever

Ever since Max Branning returned to Walford after being wrongly imprisoned for the murder of Lucy Beale, he has been keeping viewers – and fellow characters – guessing.

Still secretly seething over the way his friends, family and neighbours turned their back on him when he was accused of the gruesome murder, Max has pretended to forgive everybody all whilst pulling the strings required to tear his loved ones apart.

From going along with Steven Beale’s fake brain tumour to attempting to bump off Jane Beale, there appears to be no limits to Max’s malicious ways.

Over the past few weeks, fans of the soap learned that the East End bad boy works for Josh Hemmings and is dating Fi Browning, however, it was Friday night’s episode that really saw the storyline explode as a classic EastEnders’ villain from the 80s made his grand return to our screens.

Considering most of us can barely remember what happened in our own lives last week, let alone what was happening in Walford over 30 years ago, we have compiled a handy guide of everything that you need to know about James Willmott-Brown and Max’s role in the sinister plot to destroy Walford.

First of all, viewers have seen that Max’s old cellmate, Luke, Lauren’s former boss, Josh, and Fi, who has been overseeing everything at the Queen Vic, are siblings, with Max picking up Luke as he was released from prison and dropping him to his family’s mansion for a reunion.

Hugo, who fans recognised as the Chairman of Weyland & Co. was revealed to be Josh, Fi and Luke’s uncle, and James their dad… But who exactly is James?

Well, he was first introduced to the soap in 1986 as the manager of the Queen Vic’s brewery before he opened his own wine bar, which could not survive in competition with the Vic, and interference from a company called The Firm.

James hired Kathy Beale (yes, she’s also involved in this mess) to work in the bar and quickly became obsessed with her, eventually raping her and being imprisoned for his crime.

After he was released from jail, James attempted to start again in Walford, however, brave Kathy refused to let the community forget what he did and he was driven out again, which is why the shady businessman has such ill feeling towards the area.

In fact, James blames both Albert Square and Kathy for his destroyed business, wife’s suicide (yes, Fi was telling Mick the truth about her mum), imprisonment and relationship with The Firm, which is why he came up with this elaborate plan to destroy the neighbourhood.

James now runs Weyland & Co. with Hugo, aka the chairman, Fi, Josh and Luke all working for the company, as well as Max… But how did Max get involved?

After meeting Luke in prison, Max realised that he wasn’t the only person to have bad blood with Walford, and Luke quickly recruited him into his uncle’s plan to ruin it by slowly taking control of as many businesses in the E20 as possible – although for what purpose is yet to be revealed.

As well as unveiling James to viewers, Friday’s episode also hinted at some unrest between the group and their orders to tear down Walford, with Josh showing genuine concern for Max’s daughter Lauren, hinting that his feelings towards her aren’t just an act.

Meanwhile, Fi didn’t seem to agree with James’ decision to drive the Carters out of the Vic with expensive repair costs following the explosion, as she has also become closer to Mick and Linda than she thought that she would.

We have already seen Max battle with self harm, showing that he isn’t actually happy with what he is doing to his loved ones.

Although we don’t know who will be the first to crumble, we’re pretty sure that the next few weeks are going to be very exciting…

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