EastEnders star Max Bowden has finally spoken out after being axed from the show, with character Ben Mitchell set to depart in upcoming scenes.
Recent scenes saw Ben arrested for committing fraud in America, while trying to find treatment options for Lola Pearce.
Now, Max has confirmed that his time on the show has come to an end, with an emotional Instagram post.
Alongside a promo picture of Ben outside the Arches, Max thanked fans for embracing his version of Ben, having been the sixth actor to take on the role.
‘Well guys It’s that time!’ He penned.
‘It’s been one hell of a ride! Thanks for taking Ben to your hearts and allowing my version into your lives. I had an amazing five years at EastEnders and learnt a hell of a lot about myself and the craft I love so dearly; it got me through some very hard personal times and I will be forever grateful!
‘I really will never be able to thank everybody for the support enough, because the fans of the show are so passionate, caring, and invested and it enables us as actors to want to keep going and always be better; so I really do from the bottom of my heart appreciate every single person who has sent any sort of positivity my way over the last five years – I love you all.’
He added that Ben Mitchell 6.0 was ‘over and out’, before bidding EastEnders farewell and assuring his castmates that he would miss them.
His post was flooded with support from his co-stars and fans, with Lauren Branning actress Jacqueline Jossa writing: ‘Congratulations on a fantastic 5 years!’
Rob Kazinsky, who played Sean Slater, said that Max did ‘a hell of a job’ with the role, adding a ‘Well done mate’, wMax first took on the role of Ben in 2019, and has some dramatic storylines during that time, including his marriage to Callum Highway (Tony Clay), his devastating rape ordeal and his recent struggle with bulimia.Last year, an EastEnders spokesperson confirmed Max’s exit to Metro.co.uk, saying: ‘Max will be leaving EastEnders next year. We wish him all the best for the future.’
*Warning: This article contains spoilers for Wednesday 27th March’s EastEnders, which was made available on BBC iPlayer at 6am.*
Ben Mitchell’s (Max Bowden) fate looked signed, sealed and almost delivered in Wednesday’s instalment of EastEnders, as husband Callum Highway (Tony Clay) learned Ben had been denied bail over his fraud charge.
When Callum found out that Ben had lied to his face about being innocent of his crime, he refused to join Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) and stepdaughter Lexi Pearce (Isabella Brown) in visiting Ben at the police station.
“I don’t even want to look at him,” Callum announced to Jay.
Once at the station, Lexi allowed Ben one hug as instructed by those in charge, but as Ben tearfully admitted he was guilty, Lexi replied that she wasn’t angry, just really disappointed.
“I love you, but you’re really not good for me right now,” she said before walking out.
Meanwhile, Ben had secretly asked dad Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) to do him a favour, and it transpired this favour was to access both Ben and Lexi’s passports.
After Callum doubled down on his decision to stay well away from Ben, Phil shared a heartwarming conversation with his son-in-law as they discussed Ben’s many troubles and how Phil was responsible for the path his son had chosen.
Phil persuaded Callum that Ben needed him, urging him to take Jay with him to Ben’s bail hearing that day while he looked after Lexi.
He then added that they should give Ben some time alone with Lexi when he was granted bail.
But Ben’s mum Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth) was suspicious, and she and furious Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) caught Phil packing Lexi and Ben’s things, as Ben had asked him to help them go on the run!
All of this was arranged without Callum’s knowledge, and the idea that Ben would do a disappearing act without his husband didn’t sit right with us.
Kathy and Billy ordered Phil not to do as Ben wanted, while at the court, Callum and Jay arrived too late for the hearing.
Solicitor Ritchie Scott (Sian Webber) explained that the court branded Ben too much of a flight risk, and he had already been taken to a cell. Callum was distraught as it was confirmed that Ben wasn’t coming home.
But with Callum set to turn to his detective role in Thursday’s episode of the BBC soap, what’s the next twist in this tale?
