Let’s call a spade a spade: EastEnders’ Max Branning is hardly dad of the year, is he?

Daughter Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) has been to hell and back with daddy dearest, and the two currently share an incredibly fractured relationship that, if new years day’s flash forward episode (try saying that five times, fast) is anything to go by, isn’t going to improve any time soon.

Son Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) is much more forgiving of his dad’s many indiscretions, and is always looking to strengthen their bond, though Max’s seeming inability to be where he says he’ll be has hampered any progression there, as has his feud with Oscar’s girlfriend, Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness).

Max has lost two children too: Bradley (Charlie Clements) and Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald). They both fell from the roof of the Queen Vic to their respective demises, though what with Max having a torrid affair with Bradley’s wife, Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), and in turn, completely shattering Abi’s world, it’s not really as though he did any better with them.

Luckily, though, the man behind the Max (see what I did there?), Jake Wood, has the kind of relationship with his children that his alter-ego could only dream of, celebrating a major milestone this weekend with his beloved son, Buster, sharing his heart-warming birthday wishes to his boy on social media.

Taking to Instagram and curating a carousel of heart-warming images of his son through the years, Jake captioned the post: ‘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’

As fans enjoyed the snaps of Buster growing up, it seems they all shared one big takeaway: Buster is the absolute spitting image of his dad!

Dan Osborne, the real-life husband of Jacqueline Jossa, commented: ‘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’, following up with: ‘P.s, in that first picture, buster looks more like you than you look like you!’

‘That first pic is a young Max Branning’ @zoelac1909 added, while @sabine__ray said: ‘They are both your mini- yous! Greetings from Austria!’, referencing Buster and Jake’s daughter, Amber, who also appears in one of the pictures.

@tinamarie_w said: ‘Wow he looks like your twin! Happy birthday!’ while @kelly.ann.hammond added: ‘Wow! No DNA test required! You are like copy and paste!’

@abbot.sally posted: ‘Happy birthday to your looky likey’ while [] said: ‘Happy Birthday Buster! He looks more like you than you do! Strong genes’. @tullskate simply stated: ‘Wow he’s your clone’, with @lottykeen1990 following up with: ‘Gosh, he’s a chip off the old block isn’t he!’