JAKE Wood, who plays Max Branning in EastEnders, will switch on Salisbury's Christmas lights on Thursday.

Last year, Steve McFadden, better known as Phil Mitchell, started the annual extravaganza.

Wood joined Eastenders in 2006 and last year appeared on Strictly Come Dancing reaching the semi finals.

“I hear the crowd in Salisbury come out in their thousands for this event and I look forward to seeing them all next Thursday," he said.

His acting career started in 1985 when he appeared in the film Flesh and Blood. He has since appeared in several television series including May to December, Minder, Only Fools and Horses and Red Dwarf.

Wood joined the BBC Soap opera EastEnders in June 2006 and has been a firm favourite with soap fans over the years and involved in some of the biggest storylines winning awards at both the British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Awards.

In May 2015, Wood announced that he would be taking a year long break from EastEnders.

At the time he 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."

The event starts at 6pm in the Market Place and will include include live music, Father Christmas and high-tech video show.