EastEnders fans have a harrowing theory ahead of Max Branning's explosive exit from Albert Square this week - that he will be murdered by none other than Mick Carter.
Mick (Danny Dyer) and Max (Jake Wood) have been feuding ever since Mick found out about Max's affair with his wife, Linda Carter, though she chose to remain with Mick in the end and not elope with Max.
But after Mick unleashed a terrifying rant on Max and threatened to kill him, viewers believe he will stay true to his word.
He told Max: "I’ve got some news for you and all - you're going to stop busying yourself near my wife.
"You ain't going to go near her again, you ain't going to talk to her again, you aren't even going to look at her again.
"Do you understand what I'm saying to you? I'm telling you now you're going to stay away from her, I said don't look at her, don't talk to her.”
Max told Mick that Linda (Kellie Bright) only stayed with him out of pity as she found out he had been abused by his care worker Katy Lewis when he was a child.
In response, Mick punched Max across the Queen Vic and warned him: "Come near my wife again and I'll kill you."
Viewers then took to Twitter and predicted Mick would murder Max as one wrote: "Max's exit is definately linked to Mick..."
"Why do I have a bad feeling Max is gonna get killed off..." wondered another.
A third wrote: "Now we've got "Who killed Max?" to look forward to."
But Jake has previously confirmed his exit storyline will leave the door open for him to return to Albert Square in the future.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain's Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid, Jake said: "One of the security guys when I drove in last week said, 'Sorry to hear you're leaving, are you going in a cab or a coffin?'
"It’s not going to be a cab exactly, but they’re leaving the door open, so I’m very pleased for that."
Asked when his final scenes will air, Jake replied: "I think about mid-February, I am filming now for another two weeks so it will be about mid-February."
EastEnders airs Mondays and Fridays at 8pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One.
