Joel on EastEnders on January 28, 2026 / BBC
Max Murray is returning to the cast of EastEnders as Joel Marshall, it has been confirmed.
The character – son of Ross (Alex Walkinshaw), boyfriend of Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) – arrived in the Square in March last year and soon became involved in a dark toxic masculinity storyline.
The plot saw him covertly film him having sex with fellow teen Avani (Aaliyah James), later viciously attacking Vicki – an act which saw him convicted to six months in young offenders earlier this year.
A spokesperson told Digital Spy, which broke the story: “We can confirm that Max Murray will be returning to EastEnders.”
Murray, 18, is already said to have resumed filming and will be back on screen in the coming weeks.
