EastEnders star Max Bowden has confirmed that Ben Mitchell will return to the soap, but with a significant change. Speaking to Inside Soap, Bowden revealed that Ben will be more disciplined after his prison stint. 'I have a feeling that Ben is more disciplined,' he said. 'I think it'll have led him to go the right way as opposed to the wrong way and, hopefully, there's some redemption in Ben's heart when he finally does get released.'
Ben's Prison Sentence and Exit
Ben Mitchell has been serving a six-year prison sentence after being extradited to the US for a credit card scam. He had gone to America seeking alternative treatment for Lola Pearce, who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour. The arrest and extradition led to his conviction, with the storyline serving as an exit for the character after Max Bowden was axed from the role.
Bowden, who played Ben for five years, admitted that the departure was necessary. 'The important thing was my time was ready. I was very tired and, like I said, I wasn't me, I wasn't,' he said. 'I did nearly six hundred episodes in five years, which is a hell of a lot, and it was time for a rest. The character was tired, I was tired, they [the producers] were probably tired of me being tired.'
Ben's Emotional Journey in Prison
In his final appearances, Ben showed emotional growth. After learning that his husband Callum Highway had moved on with Johnny Carter, Ben attended the funeral of Callum's father, Jonno Highway. He then returned to prison, where he was visited by his parents, Kathy Beale and Phil Mitchell. During the visit, Phil opened up about his mental health struggles and suicide attempt, prompting Ben to share his own pain over losing the love of his life.
Kathy reminded Ben that love would come again and that he has a daughter, Lexi, to live for. The visit ended with Ben displaying emotional maturity, setting about finishing his sentence with renewed hope.
What the Return Means for Ben
Bowden's comments suggest that Ben's return will focus on redemption. 'I think it'll have led him to go the right way as opposed to the wrong way,' he said. This marks a shift from the character's previous bad-boy persona. The actor also reflected on his own need for a break, saying, 'I needed to go work on me, get myself back to a place of really good mental health, focus on healing and also be a dad.'
Fans are eager to see how Ben's changed attitude will play out, especially with his past relationship with Callum and his role as a father to Lexi. The return promises to explore a more disciplined and redeemed Ben Mitchell.
