AFTER five years portraying him, Max Bowden is parting ways with Ben Mitchell and his exit storyline begins next week.
Coming up in EastEnders, the police come to arrest Ben after he is caught up with a forgotten mistake.
Max Bowden was the sixth actor chosen to portray Ben Mitchell in 2019, reprising the role from Harry Reid.
The son of Phil Mitchell has been involved in a plethora of dramatic storylines since Max took over, including a rape storyline, aired in 2022.
But after five years in the BBC One soap, Max is moving on, away from Albert Square as his upcoming exit was announced in late 2023.
Ben’s final storyline begins next week as viewers have suspected he could be going down for hurting Dean Wicks as a favour for his pal and former flame Johnny Carter.
Soap fans may be surprised by what is really due to take Ben away from Walford until further notice.
It all begins when Callum Highway (Tony Clay) gets ready to celebrate his birthday but he can only save face when it’s clear his husband Ben hasn’t made any plans for the occasion.
Ben eventually decides to throw Callum a surprise birthday party after receiving pressure from Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) and his daughter Lexi Pearce (Isabella Brown), as well as Mitchell romance advice from his father Phil (Steve McFadden).
Callum is touched by the gesture but just as he thinks he can finally celebrate, things take a disastrous turn as the police arrive to arrest Be
In later scenes, Ben protests his innocence as he is held at the Walford police station and details of a previous crime resurface – what could it be?
At home, tensions rise between Jay, Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) and Phil, who calls in Ritchie Scott (Sian Webber) for Ben, and it’s not long before an argument erupts.
Lexi arrives home in the middle of the family argument and demands to know the truth.
Ritchie then arrives to speak to Phil, but Lexi is adamant she also deserves to know.
But a huge bombshell could be on its way when Phil takes a call from Ben as he shares a request.
In other scenes, Jay and Lexi visit Ben at the police station, but it’s not a smooth meet, and the young girl decides to leave.
Meanwhile, Phil and Callum have a heart-to-heart after he refuses to see Ben, and the Walford baddie – who was once opposed to Ben’s relationship with the copper – encourages him to give his son a second chance.
Kathy grows suspicious by Phil’s actions and she heads to No.29B to confront him.
What will be the outcome?
Although this remains to be seen, the Mitchell’s struggle continues later in the week as they try their best to deal with the fallout of Ben’s arrest.
In another twist the London-based program is known for, Callum uses his profession to his advantage.
But can he pull it off?
Will he aim to help Ben?
Or could this new hurdle break them apart again?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 8pm on ITV.
atest EastEnders spoilers reveal a shock in store for Callum Highway when the police arrest Ben Mitchell at his birthday party.
With Ben arrested on charges of a past crime, Callum and the Mitchells attempt to come to terms with the fallout. Can they help Ben out of his sticky situation?
Read our EastEnders spoilers for this story in full below.
Callum gets an unpleasant birthday surprise
Callum is disappointed when it becomes clear that Ben hasn’t made any plans for his birthday. However, after pressure from Jay and Lexi – and some advice from his dad – Ben decides to throw a surprise birthday party after all.
Callum is touched by Ben’s sweet gesture. However, things take an unexpected and disastrous turn when the police arrive to arrest Ben.
But what has Ben done?
The family falls apart as Ben faces questioning
At the station, Ben protests his innocence as details of an earlier crime resurface. Back at home, tensions rise between Jay, Kathy and Phil. Phil calls in dodgy lawyer Ritchie on Ben’s behalf.
As an argument erupts between the family, Lexi arrives home and demands to know the truth. As Ritchie arrives to speak to Phil, Lexi is adamant that she deserves to be involved in the conversation.
Later, Phil takes a call from Ben, who has a request for his father…
Phil and Callum make a plan
Jay and Lexi go to see Ben at the police station. However, things don’t go smoothly, and Lexi decides to walk out on her dad.
Later, Phil and Callum have a heart-to-heart after he refuses to see Ben. Phil encourages Callum to give his son a second chance.
Meanwhile, Kathy grows suspicious of Phil’s actions. As she confronts Phil, the Mitchells continue to deal with the fallout of Ben’s arrest.
And, as the family try to work out what to do next, Callum puts his profession to his advantage.
Can he and Phil get Ben out of hot water
