EastEnders character Ben Mitchell has been in and out of Walford more times than we care to count. The 22-year-old, who was born to Phil Mitchell and Kathy Beale in March 1996, was last seen on the show in early 2018 after scarpering to France with a wad of cash he'd discovered in his pocket after being involved in a robbery.
That was the last we saw of most recent Ben actor Harry Reid, who played him for four years, but EastEnders have announced that whilst the character of Ben Mitchell will be returning to the Square, Harry won't.
Waterloo Road actor Max Bowden will become the sixth incarnation of Ben, who was previously played by Joshua Pascoe for two years, Charlie Jones for four years and two other actors as a baby.
His arrival on the soap was announced by the BBC earlier this morning with the revelation that he would be joined by his cousin and one-time lover, Lola Pearce.
Of his brand new role, Max said, "I’m so excited to be joining the cast of EastEnders and taking on the role of Ben Mitchell. I’ve always been a fan of the show so to be joining one of the most iconic families in soap is beyond exciting. I can’t wait to get started and see what’s in store for Ben.”
New soap boss Kate Oates added of Max joining the cast, "A character like Ben, with his rich history, ‘complicated’ family and complex psychology, is pure gold. With Max in the role, we will be exploring the aspects of Ben’s character that have been allowed to develop during his time away from the Square: unfettered by old loyalties, and out of the long shadow of his father, Phil."
Swipe through to see all the EastEnders spoilers you need to know this week...
EastEnders Spoilers Week 5 2019 - slider
1 of 40Hunter and Keanu are at war
Things in the square kick off with Hunter provoking Keanu while they're at a party.
2 of 40eastenders spoilers keanu punches hunter
One thing leads to another and Karen's son punches Hunter in the street.
3 of 40Nicola and Maddie return to the Square
When Jack takes Hunter home, Mel confronts him about his recent behaviour but he manages to get out of trouble by fake crying. While Mel comforts Hunter, they're interrupts by a fuming Nicola and Maddie who arrive on the Square and demand to see Ray.
4 of 40Mel turns to Phil for advice
Jack shares his concerns with Mel about Hunter's behaviour the previous night in the club.
5 of 40eastenders spoilers keanu punches hunter
Bex Fowler tries to calm the situation down but is left unnerved by Hunter's response.
6 of 40Mel is left feeling worried
Mel is left feeling worried when Bex tells her about Hunter's encounter with Keanu. She then encourages her son to open up unbeknownst to her, Hunter is annoyed that she keeps worrying so decides to humour her concern. He later sneaks off.
7 of 40eastenders spoilers mel and hunter owen
When Hunter and his mum return home, Mel decides to chuck away all traces of her now-dead husband Ray Kelly. Hunter is left feeling relieved when he discovers the gun he hid is still in the house.
8 of 40eastenders spoilers phil mitchell and mel owen
When Mel watched CCTV footage of her son in the club she turns to Phil Mitchell for advice.
9 of 40eastenders spoilers ian beale and mel owen
When Mel arrives, she tries to sneakily get Ian's advice about Hunter without revealing it's for her son. However when she starts to ask about Bobby, Ian storms off.
10 of 40eastenders spoilers mel owen threatened
Mel worries when Nicola and Maddie refuse to leave Walford until they get some answers about Ray's whereabouts and luckily she manages to convince them she doesn't know anything.
11 of 40eastenders spoilers ian beale and mel owen
She then apologises to Ian and as he begins to open up about what happened with Bobby, Mel begins to think about makes a huge decision.
12 of 40Mel seeks help from Ian Beale
At the end of the week, Mel turns to Ian Beale for helping but Ian being well, Ian, he thinks they're going on a date.
13 of 40Hunter leaves Jack feeling alarmed
Later, Jack check in on his ex and when he notices how worried Mel is he heads off to find Hunter. He's left alarmed when he finds the teenager trying to chat up girls at E20.
14 of 40eastenders spoilers hunter owen
However the next day, Hunter spots the women watching him…
15 of 40eastenders spoilers hunter owen
While all this is happening, Hunter continues to assure his mum that he's fine.
16 of 40eastenders spoilers sharon returns keanu affair
Fearful that Sharon will see the photo, Keanu begs Louise to remove the picture.
17 of 40eastenders spoilers sharon returns keanu affair
At the end of the week, Karen notices her son is mopping around and when she suspects it's about Sharon, he's quick to reassure her that it's over with her.
18 of 40eastenders spoilers sharon returns keanu affair
While they're celebrating at the pub, Sharon and Keanu struggle to keep their eyes off each other and desperate to have a chat, Keanu follows her into the toilet.
19 of 40eastenders spoilers sharon returns keanu affair
However, when Sharon makes it clear that things are over between them, he makes a touching gesture.
20 of 40eastenders spoilers sharon returns keanu affair
Following a chat with his mum, Keanu decides to visit Sharon.
21 of 40Sharon returns to the Square
Elsewhere in Walford, after passing her theory test Louise Mitchell thanks Keanu for his support by posting a picture of them on social media.
22 of 40eastenders spoilers sharon returns keanu affair
Keanu reminds Sharon that she was the one who ended things. When Louise enters the toilet, Sharon manages to help sneak out Keanu unnoticed.
23 of 40eastenders spoilers sharon returns keanu affair
Keanu struggles to keep up appearances with Louise because Sharon's on his mind.
24 of 40eastenders spoilers sharon returns keanu affair
Later while at the Mitchell house, Keanu begins to panic when Phil jokes about grandchildren. He's then relieved when Phil lets him slip off and spend time with Louise.
25 of 40eastenders spoilers sharon returns keanu affair
After leaving Louise annoyed, Keanu asks Bex for some help and she suggests they throw a surprise party for her BFF. Louise is left touched that Keanu threw her a party and as the pair kiss, Sharon returns and walks in on them.
26 of 40eastenders spoilers sharon returns keanu affair
The next day it's Denise Fox's 50th birthday and she celebrates her milestone in The Vic with the rest of the residents.
27 of 40eastenders spoilers sharon returns keanu affair
When Keanu tells Sharon he missed her, she's quick to remind him about his kiss with Louise.
28 of 40Jay and Ruby head out on a date
Meanwhile in Albert Square, Stacey Fowler encourages Jay to invite Ruby out on a date.
29 of 40eastenders spoilers jay brown and ruby allen date
After she accepts, Billy suggests to Jay that after everything they've both been through, maybe a date isn't a good idea.
30 of 40eastenders spoilers jay brown and ruby allen date
Despite Billy's advice Jay intends to still meet up with Ruby but suggests they meet as friends instead, kicking Ruby's confidence.
31 of 40eastenders spoilers jay brown and ruby allen date
After ruining the date, Billy tries to put things right by telling Ruby he's got a crush on Shirley.
32 of 40eastenders spoilers jay brown and ruby allen date
N'aww.
33 of 40Ruby's home gets broken into
Following their rocky date, Jay walks Ruby home but is startled when she shouts that her flat was broken into.
34 of 40eastenders spoilers jay brown and ruby allen date
Ruby is left shocked.
35 of 40Jay and Ruby plan another date
Jay reports the break in to the police and when he sees Ruby again he reassures her that he'd like to go on another date.
36 of 40eastenders spoilers jay brown and ruby allen date
It looks like things go well on their date...
37 of 40Jay and Ruby have a proper date
When Jay arrives, he's left touched by Ruby's effort.
38 of 40eastenders spoilers jay brown and ruby allen date
Later, Honey gives Ruby a recipe for her date with Jay but feeling out of her depth, she calls Stacey and asks for help.
39 of 40Billy and Shirley crash Jay and Ruby's date
Following some support from Stacey, Ruby heads down to Walford East to meet Jay but is shocked when Billy and Shirley Carter arrive and crash their date.
40 of 40eastenders mick and mitch friendship
Mick and Linda Carter begin to flirt but Shirley interrupts their moment by revealing the pump has broken.
Although there's no word yet on when Ben will return to Walford, we do know that Rob Kazinsky will be reprising his role as Sean Slater on the soap in the coming months. Rob, who left EastEnders in 2009, said, "Throughout my career, I have always felt that my best work was on EastEnders as Sean Slater
"There was something there in him that I understood completely, something traumatic, something that we never really got to show the viewers. I have unfinished business in Albert Square and am thrilled to be returning to what I still consider to be my home, however briefly."
EastEnders airs on Mondays and Fridays at 8pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One.
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