Jake Wood

Last updated

Jake Wood
Jake Wood 2018.jpg
Wood at the British Podcast Awards in 2018
Born
Jake Dylan Wood

(1972-07-12) 12 July 1972 (age 52)
Westminster, United Kingdom
Alma mater Anna Scher Drama School
OccupationActor
Years active1984–present
Known for EastEnders
2:22 A Ghost Story
Spouse
Alison Wood
​
(m. 2001)​
[1]
Children2

Jake Dylan Wood (born 12 July 1972) [2] is a British actor and podcaster from Westminster, known for his role as Max Branning in the BBC soap opera EastEnders . He has also made guest appearances in series including Only Fools and Horses and Red Dwarf . In 2014, Wood competed on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing alongside professional dancer Janette Manrara. In the United States, he is known as the voice of the GEICO gecko in a series of television adverts for the American insurance company GEICO. In 2018, he began co-hosting Pound for Pound, a boxing podcast with Spencer Oliver.

Contents

Early life

Wood was born in Westminster, London to an English father and a French mother. [2] He attended City of London Academy Highbury Grove and trained as an actor at the Anna Scher Drama School in Islington, North London. [1]

Career

His first acting role was in the 1984 television series The Gentle Touch. [3] He has since appeared in several television series including May to December , Minder , Only Fools and Horses , Nightingales , Murder in Mind , Press Gang , London's Burning , Casualty, In Deep, Sean's Show , Inspector Morse Driven to Distraction 1989 , One Foot in the Grave , Red Dwarf , A Touch of Frost , The Bill , Le Café des Rêves , Sea of Souls , Doc Martin and The Thin Blue Line . He has appeared in the films Flesh and Blood (1985) with Rutger Hauer and Jennifer Jason Leigh, Crimetime (1996) with Stephen Baldwin, Tube Tales (1999), The Aryan Couple (2004) and The Illusionist (2006) opposite Edward Norton. Wood starred in the 1989 Yellow pages TV Advert, entitled "Party Party" and, until 2015, was the voice of the GEICO gecko advertisements on American television. [4] Wood also featured alongside Cobent CTO and ex-Metal Hammer journalist Tony Dillon as part of a team presenting Click, a computer games magazine on video in the early 1990s. In 1989, Wood appeared in Only Fools and Horses as an assistant for Rodney Trotter (Nicholas Lyndhurst), in the episode The Jolly Boys' Outing . In the 8th series of Red Dwarf he played Kill Crazy, a prison inmate. Wood also played the eldest son, Dougie, in sitcom family The Wilsons. [5]

In March 1990, Wood portrayed the role of Jackson in the BBC soap opera EastEnders , a minor character who met Diane Butcher (Sophie Lawrence) while she was sleeping rough on the streets of London. [6] Wood was later cast to play the regular character Max Branning from June 2006 to February 2021. [7] In 2014, Wood took part in the 12th series of Strictly Come Dancing . [8] He was partnered with Janette Manrara, reaching the semi-final. In May 2015, Wood announced that he would be taking a year-long break from EastEnders. Wood said "I have been at EastEnders for nine years and I feel the time is right to give Max a break. It won't be for too long as I shall be back next year to see Max face another chapter of drama." [9]

In January 2018, Wood started hosting a boxing podcast, Pound for Pound, with Spencer Oliver. [10] In September 2020, it was announced that Wood would be departing from the cast of EastEnders after fifteen years in the role, with Max being written out as part of an "explosive exit". His final appearance aired on 19 February 2021. [11]

Personal life

Wood is a fan of Arsenal [12] and took part in the 2007 Great North Run. [13] He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife, Alison, whom he married in 2001, and their two children. [1]

In 2019, he ran the London Marathon with some of his EastEnders co-stars for a Dementia campaign in honour of Barbara Windsor. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denise van Outen</span> English actress and television presenter (born 1974)

Denise van Outen is an English actress, singer, dancer and presenter. She presented The Big Breakfast, played Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago both in the West End and on Broadway and finished as runner-up in the tenth series of the BBC One dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigel Harman</span> British actor

Nigel Derek Harman is an English actor. Beginning his career as a child actor, he has played various roles across theatre, stage and television, including as Sky Masterson in Michael Grandage's revival of Guys and Dolls and as Lord Farquaad in the original London production of Shrek the Musical, for which he received an Olivier Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Maslen</span> English actor (b. 1971)

Scott Alexander Maslen is an English actor and model, best known for his portrayal as DS Phil Hunter in the ITV police drama series The Bill and Jack Branning in the BBC soap opera EastEnders since 2007. He also took part in the 2010 series of Strictly Come Dancing and the 2015 series of Celebrity MasterChef. He portrayed Claude Speed in the live-action trailer for Grand Theft Auto 2 in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kara Tointon</span> English actress (b. 1983)

Kara Louise Tointon is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Dawn Swann in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 2010, she won the BBC competition series Strictly Come Dancing, and in 2015, she appeared as Maria in the ITV live production of The Sound of Music Live.

Charlie Clements is an English actor known for the role of Bradley Branning in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from January 2006 to February 2010. He has won several soap and magazine awards for his performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Branning</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Max Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jake Wood. He made his first appearance on 27 June 2006. Wood took a four-month break from the show in 2011 and the character was absent between August and November 2011. Wood took a year long break from the show in 2015, with Max departing on 1 October. He returned on 24 December 2016. Wood took another short break from the show in 2018; Max departed on 16 February and returned on 23 April. It was announced in 2018 that Max would be taking a break from the soap in early 2019. He left on 14 February 2019 and returned on 7 May 2019. Max served as the show's main antagonist of 2017 following his release from prison and planning revenge on all his family, friends and neighbours. On 16 September 2020, it was announced that Wood would be departing from the role of Max after more than 14 years. Wood's final scenes aired on 19 February 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanya Branning</span> Fictional character in BBC soap opera EastEnders

Tanya Cross is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jo Joyner. She made her first appearance on 27 June 2006. Joyner left the show temporarily on 25 December 2009 for maternity leave. After a guest appearance, Tanya eventually returned on 27 September 2010. On 1 April 2013, it was announced that Joyner would be departing the role and she made her final appearance on 28 June 2013. Tanya returned in February 2015 for two episodes as part of the show's 30th anniversary celebrations. She later reprised the role again in 2017 for four episodes, appearing between 25 December 2017 and 16 February 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kellie Bright</span> English actress (born 1976)

Kellie Denise Bright is an English actress. Her roles include Linda Carter in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, for which she won the 2015 British Soap Award for Best Actress and Best Dramatic Performance, Julie in Ali G Indahouse, Joanna Burrows in The Upper Hand (1990–1996), Cassie Tyler in Bad Girls (2002) and Joan Trotter in Rock & Chips (2010–2011). In 2015, she was the runner-up in the 13th series of the BBC One show Strictly Come Dancing.

<i>Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two</i> Companion weeknight show on BBC Two

Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two is a British television programme, the companion show to the popular BBC One programme Strictly Come Dancing. First aired on 25 October 2004, it is broadcast from Monday to Friday during the run of the main show on BBC Two at 6:30 pm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maisie Smith</span> English actress, singer (b. 2001)

Maisie Louise Collender Smith is an English actress and singer. She appeared in the feature film The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and played the regular role of Tiffany Butcher in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2008 to 2014. In November 2016, Smith temporarily returned to EastEnders for a guest stint, before making a full-time return in January 2018. In October 2021 it was announced that she would once again be leaving EastEnders and her final scenes aired in December of that year; she made a one-off appearance in March 2022 to aid the departure of Keegan Baker. In 2020, she competed in the eighteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing alongside partner Gorka Marquez, reaching the final but losing out to Bill Bailey.

Janette Manrara Škorjanec is a Cuban-American singer, television presenter, choreographer and professional dancer from Miami, Florida, US. Born to her Cuban parents, Luis and Maritza, Janette is the oldest of three. Originally a singer, learning from her Cuban family, she formally studied dance from the age of 19. Manrara is best known for her appearances on the US series So You Think You Can Dance and British dance reality television competition, Strictly Come Dancing. She is married to Slovenian dancer and co-star Aljaž Škorjanec. In June 2021, it was announced that Manrara would co host Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two with Rylan Clark and later Fleur East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Norwood</span> English actor (born 1983)

Ricky James Norwood is a British actor from London, known for portraying the role of Fatboy in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders and its online spin-off EastEnders: E20 (2010–2011). Following his initial exit from the soap, Norwood appeared as a housemate on the eighteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2016 and finished as the runner-up. He has also competed in the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Gold</span> EastEnders character, created 2010

Vanessa Gold is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She is portrayed by Zöe Lucker, and first appeared in EastEnders in the episode broadcast on 4 June 2010. A "dynamic and assured" businesswoman, Vanessa was created by series consultant Simon Ashdown to be "a Zöe Lucker-type". Lucker accepted the role on a seven-episode contract, which was extended after she impressed the series producers with her performance. In April 2011, it was announced that Lucker was to leave the show. She departed on 6 October 2011, after the conclusion of her storylines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cora Cross</span> UK soap opera character, created 2011

Cora Cross is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Ann Mitchell. Cora is the mother of Tanya Branning, Rainie Cross and Ava Hartman and the grandmother of Lauren and Abi Branning. Cora initially appeared from 11 to 15 April 2011, and returned as a regular character on 28 July. Cora is described as having "a brash, outspoken attitude and does not care who she offends", deemed "an archetypal East End matriarch" and Inside Soap says that Cora is a "brash, loud lady who likes to tell everyone what she thinks and has absolutely no shame."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Branning</span> UK soap opera character, created 1996

Derek Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Terence Beesley in 1996 and then Jamie Foreman from 2011 to 2012. Derek is the eldest child of Jim Branning and Reenie Branning. He first appears in episode 1282, which was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on 29 April 1996, for his sister April Branning's wedding and departed on 2 May. The character returned as a regular in the episode broadcast on 24 November 2011, played by Foreman. In October 2012, it was announced that Foreman would be leaving EastEnders in December 2012 as part of a Christmas storyline. On 20 December 2012, it is revealed that Derek was the person who Kat Moon had an affair with. The character died of a heart attack in the episode broadcast on 25 December 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Bayley</span> British para table tennis player

William John Bayley is a British professional Paralympic table tennis player, ranked world number 1. He is the 2016 Summer Paralympics Games gold medallist and the 2014 World Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl White</span> Fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders

Carl White is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Daniel Coonan. He first appears in the 4660th episode, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 20 June 2013. Carl is the ex-boyfriend of Kirsty Branning, and his storylines include tracking down cash owed to him by Derek Branning – which Ian Beale has used to open a restaurant; trying to win Kirsty back; a relationship with Roxy Mitchell ; his feuds with Roxy's cousin Phil and Derek's brother Max ; blackmailing Ian for money; and developing a conflict with Roxy's sister Ronnie that ultimately results in his downfall. He became the show's main antagonist up until his death on 1 January 2014. The character was axed in September 2013 and departed in the episode first broadcast in the UK on 1 January 2014, a joint broadcast of episodes 4775 and 4776, after being killed by Ronnie.

Aljaž Škorjanec is a Slovenian dancer and choreographer, who is known for appearing on the BBC series Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer from 2013 to 2021, and from 2024 onwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Bye</span> British actor (b. 1984)

James Edward Bye is an English actor who has played Martin Fowler in EastEnders since 2014. He competed in the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Strictly Come Dancing Live! is a nationwide arena tour in the United Kingdom which was first staged in 2008 and has continued every year since. It is directed and co-choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "BBC One – Strictly Come Dancing, Series 12 – Jake Wood". BBC. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Jake Wood on TV.com". TV.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  3. ↑ "EastEnders star Jake Wood shares picture from first TV role in tribute to Jill Gascoine". Entertainment Daily. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Merriman, Rebecca (16 November 2015). "EastEnders' Jake Wood goes on Twitter rant after being AXED after ten years in role". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  5. ↑ "The Wilsons Cast and Crew on TV.com". TV.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  6. ↑ "Remember when Max Branning star Jake Wood was in EastEnders in the '90s?". Metro . Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  7. ↑ Wilkes, Neil (19 January 2006). "Mitchell kids to return to Walford". Digital Spy . Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  8. ↑ Daly, Emma (24 August 2014). "Soap stars Jake Wood and Sunetra Sarker sign up for Strictly Come Dancing 2014". Radio Times. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "Jake Wood to take EastEnders 'break'". BBC. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "EastEnders star Jake Wood halts podcast to rescue neighbour trapped in shed: 'His heart was pounding'". Metro . Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  11. ↑ Lindsay, Duncan (16 September 2020). "EastEnders spoilers: Jake Wood leaves after 15 years as Max Branning makes explosive exit". Metro . Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "Football – Lawro's Premier League predictions". BBC. 6 February 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  13. ↑ "BBC – Tyne – Great North Run – GNR 2007: At the finish". BBC . Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  14. ↑ "EastEnders stars to run marathon for Dame Barbara Windsor". BBC News . 8 January 2019. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.