EastEnders star Maisie Smith has provided a health update on her boyfriend Max George after his recent major heart surgery.
The Tiffany Butcher actress has been dating The Wanted singer Max since 2022, two years after they met on the BBC series Strictly Come Dancing.
Taking part in the 2020 series of the annual programme, Maisie made it all the way to the final with her dance partner Gorka Márquez.
Max didn’t fare as well in the series which was won by popular comic Bill Bailey, with him and Australian native Dianne Buswell eliminated in week four.
Fans were stunned two years after the series’ conclusion when they found out that Max and Maisie were officially an item, with the 36-year-old and 24-year-old together for the past three years.
Last December saw Max rushed to hospital, where he had heart surgery and a pacemaker fitted after doctors discovered a heart block.
Max revealed earlier in the year that he had to have a second heart operation after doctors discovered his pacemaker wires were inserted too deeply.
Appearing on Loose Women on Thursday (August 14) to promote her new stage adaption of The Talented Mr Ripley, Maisie was asked about how Max is keeping.
She told the ITV panelists: “He’s getting stronger every single day, he’s touring at the minute, doing gigs every weekend all over the country.
“He gets all week off to chill, but he’s not because he’s traveling to see me. He’s doing well and is very supportive.”
Last year saw Max and Siva Kaneswaran form The Wanted 2.0, with Jay McGuinness and Nathan Sykes both choosing not to be involved in the project.
The Wanted were one of the UK’s biggest boybands after forming in 2009, boasting hits such as All Time Low, Chasing The Sun and Glad You Came.
The boys announced in 2014, that they would be going on hiatus in order to pursue individual solo projects away from the group.
Following Tom Parker’s inoperable brain tumour diagnosis in 2020, The Wanted reunited for a greatest hits album and a performance at a charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 2021.
Fans were left devastated in 2022 when dad-of-two and Bolton native Tom passed away at the age of 33.
Speaking on Lorraine last month about why he decided not to be involved with The Wanted 2.0, Jay told Christine Lampard: “Right now Siva and Max are doing The Wanted 2.0 and they’re doing festivals all across the country if you want to go hear songs you love, sing along and drink a beer out of a plastic cup at a festival.
“Those boys sing amazingly, Siva’s beautiful tone and Max’s piercing vocals are amazing. I’m way softer and it’s way too raw.
“Some of those songs will get me in tears and no one wants to see that. I’m so happy the boys can get in front of the fans and have those experiences again. I’m not there yet, but who knows in time. Go watch them, go and see the boys.”