In a heartwarming departure from his dramatic on-screen persona, EastEnders star Jake Wood has celebrated a significant family milestone this weekend, sharing touching birthday wishes for his son Buster's 18th birthday on social media.
A Father's Loving Tribute
Taking to Instagram, the actor who portrays the troubled Max Branning in the long-running BBC soap curated a carousel of nostalgic photographs documenting Buster's journey from childhood to adulthood. The emotional caption read: 'HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY BUSTER!!!! Everyone loves you so much!!! Keep doing what you are doing, stay true to yourself and continue being the thoughtful, funny, caring, talented and amazing young man you have grown up to be and who we are so incredibly proud of always.'
Striking Family Resemblance
As fans enjoyed the intimate family photographs, one overwhelming observation emerged from the comments section: Buster bears an uncanny resemblance to his famous father. Fellow actor Dan Osborne, married to Jacqueline Jossa who plays Lauren Branning in EastEnders, humorously noted: 'P.s, in that first picture, buster looks more like you than you look like you!'
The sentiment was echoed by numerous followers, with comments including:
- 'That first pic is a young Max Branning' - @zoelac1909
- 'Wow he looks like your twin! Happy birthday!' - @tinamarie_w
- 'No DNA test required! You are like copy and paste!' - @kelly.ann.hammond
- 'Wow he's your clone' - @tullskate
- 'Gosh, he's a chip off the old block isn't he!' - @lottykeen1990
Contrasting On-Screen and Real-Life Fatherhood
The celebration highlights a poignant contrast between Wood's real-life family relationships and those of his fictional counterpart. On EastEnders, Max Branning has experienced multiple family tragedies and fractured relationships with his children:
- Daughter Lauren Branning shares an incredibly strained relationship with her father
- Son Oscar Branning struggles to strengthen their bond despite Max's unreliability
- The character has lost two children, Bradley and Abi, in dramatic circumstances
- Max's numerous affairs and poor decisions have consistently damaged family connections
This real-life celebration demonstrates that Wood himself enjoys the kind of loving parental relationship that his character could only imagine, with followers praising both the actor's parenting and the strong family bonds evident in the photographs.
Industry Recognition
The Instagram post attracted attention from within the entertainment industry, with Dan Osborne adding: 'Happy Birthday Buster! Can't believe I've seen you grow from a young boy to a man!! Where does time go Jake?! What a lovely guy you've raised though mate, lovely family. Have a great birthday Bust.'
Other followers offered international greetings, with @sabine__ray commenting from Austria: 'They are both your mini-yous! Greetings from Austria!' referencing both Buster and Wood's daughter Amber, who also appeared in the photographs.
The celebration comes as Wood continues his portrayal of one of British television's most complex paternal figures, making the genuine family moment particularly resonant for fans who follow both his professional work and personal life.
