Why is Ben Mitchell leaving EastEnders?
EASTENDERS fans were shocked when it was revealed Ben Mitchell was set to leave Albert Square.
Played by Max Bowen, the wayward character is waving goodbye to Walford.
Why is Ben Mitchell leaving EastEnders?
In December 2023, The Sun on Sunday exclusively revealed how Ben Mitchell star Max Bowden had been axed from EastEnders.
We revealed it came after the actor – who joined the soap in 2019 – had a showdown with bosses over his “party lifestyle”.
A TV insider said: “Max has played Ben for the last four years and bosses decided his time on the show was up.
“There has been a lot of noise around him for a bit too long and that can take away from the drama on the show.
“He went in for a meeting as his contract was up for renewal next year.
“No one knew how it was going to go and following discussions it was decided that he would leave.
“Bosses have yet to plan his exit storyline but Ben is not a character that they would kill off as we’ve already seen in all the previous recasts.”
How will Ben Mitchell leave EastEnders?
Max’s final scenes as Ben air on March 29, 2024.
His character has been arrested on an international warrant after his trip to America in 2023.
Ben faces six years in prison after he stole someone else’s card and spent thousands on hotel bills, car rental and a business class flight home after his own credit cards were blocked.
What has Ben Mitchell’s actor Max Bowden said about leaving EastEnders?
Max shared an emotional post on Instagram about his exit from EastEnders.
He wrote: “Well guys It’s that time! It’s been one hell of a ride! Thanks for taking Ben to your hearts and allowing my version into your lives.
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
Max Bowden on leaving EastEnders
“I had an amazing five years at @bbceastenders 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.
“Ben Mitchell 6.0 over and out. Goodbye EE! I’ll miss you all.”
As Max’s time on EastEnders comes to a close after five years, his next acting project has already been revealed.
He will star in a brand-new stage production of Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks’s epic story of love and loss.
The new theatre show marks the 30th anniversary of the international best-selling novel’s release.
Max will play Jack Firebrace in the play, which tells the story of one man’s journey through an all-consuming love affair and into the horror of the First World War.
Max said: “I’m so excited to be collaborating with Original Theatre again on a project close to my heart.
“Birdsong highlights the tragedy of war, yet the beauty of humanity simultaneously through strong relationships under extreme circumstances, and I can’t wait to bring Jack Firebrace to life under their guidance.”
Timeline of Ben Mitchell actors
Over the years Ben Mitchell has been played by five different actors.
Here we take a look at all of the actors who portrayed the character since 1996:
Matthew Silver played baby Ben from 1996–1998. Since leaving Walford, little is known about the original Ben Mitchell.
Next up Morgan Whittle played the character as a toddler from 1999 to 2001. In total, he starred in 11 episodes of the hit BBC One soap.
Ben Mitchell was absent from Walford for five years – until Charlie Jones took over in 2006 and remained until 2010. His most memorable storyline was the physical and mental abuse he suffered at the hands of his dad Phil’s girlfriend Stella Crawford.
Joshua Pascoe took over from Charlie in 2010, and he remained in the role until 2012.
Harry Reid assumed the role in 2014, and remained in Walford up until 2018. Harry quit the soap as Ben headed off to France with a chunk of the heist money.
Max Bowden then stepped into the role in 2019, before being axed in 2024. The character found himself in hot water over stolen credit cards, which meant he had to leave Albert Square.