Max Cunningham

Max Cunningham
Max Cunningham, as portrayed by Matt Littler
Hollyoaks character
Portrayed by	Ben Sheriff (1995–96) Matt Littler (1996–2008)
Duration	1995–2008
First appearance	6 November 1995
Last appearance	11 July 2008
Created by	Phil Redmond
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Occupation	Co-owner of MOBS (1999–2008)
Family Cunningham Father Gordon Cunningham Mother Angela Cunningham Stepfather Terry Williams Stepmother Helen Richardson (1999–2004) Sisters Dawn Cunningham Cindy Cunningham Jude Cunningham Half-brothers Tom Cunningham Wife Clare Devine (2006–07) Steph Dean (2008) Nephews Hilton Savage Alfie Nightingale Nieces Bethany Cunningham Holly Cunningham Steph Cunningham Other relatives Benny Cunningham

Max Cunningham is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Matt Littler. From 1995 to 1996, Max was portrayed by Ben Sheriff before Littler took over. In 2008, Max, along with Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard), was the longest running character in Hollyoaks. In May 2008, it was announced that Littler had decided to leave the show and would depart in July 2008.

The character of Max first appeared in 1995 as one of the original Hollyoaks characters. At this time, he was played by actor, Ben Sheriff. In 1996, after only a year on the show, Hollyoaks producer Phil Redmond decided to recast the character, where he found Matt Littler. Littler spoke of playing an already established character stating: "I didn't really watch it much, so it didn't really affect me" and also revealed he had met with Sheriff and his career was fine post filming. Littler followed the role for almost twelve years until his decision to leave the show in 2008.

Max found himself surrounded by death, with older sister Dawn dying of leukaemia in 1997. His stepbrother Lewis committed suicide in 2001. His death made Max look at life in a different way, deciding to spend less time with OB and open a new business, a burger van. Max also began dating Jodie Nash, however it was soon over. In 2004, Max saw more misery when his father Gordon and stepmother Helen were killed in a car crash. Max took it upon himself to raise younger half brother Tom. In 2006, another death hit the family, this time Max's step niece Grace Hutchinson, who died to suspected Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. With the four deaths, Max decided to live his life to the full rather than not get to live in at all. Max then met and fell in love with Clare Devine.