One of the UK's most recognisable actors, Jake Wood is the star behind the role of Max Branning on EastEnders, Kill Crazy on Red Dwarf, as well as Rodney Trotter's assistant on Only Fools and Horses. Jake's first casting came in 1984 when he appeared in The Gentle Touch. Soon after, he would establish himself in a diverse range of roles, that have included London's Burning, Inspector Morse Driven to Distraction, Red Dwarf, A Touch of Frost, The Bill, One Foot in the Grave and of course EastEnders. He began work on the award-winning soap opera in 1990, playing a minor character. In 2006 he was cast as Max Branning and has featured in the role ever since. He has won prizes at the British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Awards, proving himself as one of the most memorable characters in the show's history.
In addition to his experience as an actor and gripping the nation with the storyline of his cheating character, Max Branning, Jake became host of a boxing podcast, Pound for Pound with Spencer Oliver in 2018. He has also gone on to run the Great North Run and London Marathon in aid of Dementia, following his co-star, Barbara Windsor's diagnosis with the disease.
His charity work has also seen him support Marie Curie and build awareness of children affected by their parent's drinking problems by running a boxing match exclusively at London's Royal Lancaster Hotel in conjunction with parental drinking charity, Nacoa UK. In 1989 he was cast in the Yellow Pages' Party Party advert and later as the voice of the famous Geico commercials in the USA. He competed in the twelfth series of Strictly Come Dancing, going all the way to the semifinals of the competition with dance partner, Janette Manrara. Ideal as an event host and master of ceremonies, Jake has appeared at countless award ceremonies and events where he discusses his experiences, imparts advice and shares his stories, as well as touches on the topics entertained on EastEnders. In contrast to his character, Jake is a thoughtful host able to entertain audiences with both charm and intriguing anecdotes.
How to hire Jake Wood
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Jake Wood for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
See what people had to say about Jake, when he appeared at their events, below:
“The day went really well. Jake was really good and could not be more helpful. We would definitely use him again in the future on other sites.” - Adrian, Stade Developments Ltd
