Jake Wood, best known for his unforgettable role in EastEnders, is making a comeback to our TV screens. This time, however, he's swapping acting for puzzle-solving on the celebrity edition of ITV's beloved game show, Catchphrase. The actor will be pitted against Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle and TV host Nick Edwards as they vie to win cash for their chosen charities, all under the watchful eye of show host Stephen Mulhern. Since Jake's departure from the soap in 2020, with his final EastEnders episode airing in February 2021, he has largely remained off the television radar, having taken a significant step back from the glitz and glamour of showbiz. While fans have been buzzing with rumours and hopeful whispers of Jake's character Max Branning making a dramatic return, there are currently no official confirmations or plans for him to reprise his role. With the recent announcement that Jake will be making a brief appearance on Celebrity Catchphrase, it got us wondering about his life away from the spotlight, reports Plymouth Live. Rarely seen son At 51, Jake is certainly making up for lost time with his family after dedicating an impressive 15 years to the BBC soap. Last year, he took to social media to share an adorable snap with his 17-year-old son Buster. The father-son duo posed together for a post promoting a Sellebrity Soccer match, with the teenager joining his dad on the pitch for some charitable football fun. They snuggled up as Jake proudly shared his son's achievements, with the caption: "Proud dad alert". In January, Jake made a comeback on social media, posting a series of heartfelt photos for his son's 17th birthday. His post read: "You couldn't wish to meet a more wonderful young man. Happy 17th @_8u5ter we love you so much and are so proud of you always." Celebrating 20 years of sobriety On New Year's Day in 2024, the devoted dad-of-two opened up about a personal milestone, revealing he had been alcohol-free for twenty years. He marked this significant moment from a hot tub, enjoying a cigar. Sharing his thoughts on X - previously known as Twitter, he reflected: "So I'm sat here in a hot tub, having a cigar, it's pretty cool. "And just reflecting on how grateful I am for all the amazing things I've got in my life. I've got an amazing family, beautiful family, fantastic friends. Everyone is happy and healthy." Jake also touched on his journey to sobriety: "Also, and I don't really talk about this often, I just want to say that tonight I'm 20 years sober. Stopped drinking 20 years ago tonight and that changed my life in so many ways. It's immeasurable. So anyone on the same journey, I send you love and support, and if anyone's struggling there's help out there, alright?" He concluded with words of encouragement: "You can do it. Love you guys. Happy New Year." The soap star didn't disclose his reasons for choosing sobriety but shared a hopeful and inspiring message in his caption: "I am 20 years sober tonight. So proud of myself and for anyone out there on a similar journey. "If you are struggling there is help out there, please reach out and believe me if I did it you can too. Sending you all love and strength and a happy and healthy 2024." Impersonator posing as him online In 2021, the beloved actor took to Instagram to alert his thousands of followers about an imposter who had been impersonating him online and had even contacted some of his followers. Shortly after he posted about the scammer, his account was deleted, leaving fans concerned about what had happened. Those attempting to access his Instagram page were met with an error message that read: "Sorry this page isn't available. The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed. Go back to Instagram." His sudden online disappearance occurred just two weeks after he issued a warning about a "cretin" impersonator who had been pretending to be him to fans. At the time, a representative for Jake confirmed to MailOnline that his account had been hacked, adding they were "in the process of regaining access," which they eventually managed to do. Why his marriage lasted His Max Branning alter-ego is quite different from his real-life persona, with his character often seen getting involved with various female characters in the soap. Jake has been blissfully married to his childhood love Alison Murray for over 20 years, with the couple first saying 'I do' in 2001 and then reaffirming their love with a mini private Glastonbury-themed vow renewal in 2017. The duo are proud parents to two children, Amber, 19, and Buster, 17, and they've made a unique converted schoolhouse in Hertfordshire their family home. In a candid chat with the Mirror, Jake opened up about the secret to their enduring romance, admitting that it's taken plenty of effort from both sides. He shared with the outlet: "We obviously love each other a lot but also we've always wanted the same things. You've got to work hard at it and you've got to talk. Alison's taught me that." Their weekly date nights are sacred, where they unwind, catch up, and ensure they're still on the same page. He also expressed: "We're not soppy but we know we love each other a lot. Alison means the world to me. I feel incredibly lucky to have been with such an amazing woman for so long and I'm looking forward to the next 23 years." Catchphrase will air this weekend on Sunday, 6th April, on ITV.