Max Bowden, the actor who played Ben Mitchell in EastEnders, has hinted at a possible return for the character, revealing a major change in his personality. Speaking to Inside Soap, Bowden suggested that Ben, currently serving a six-year prison sentence, would emerge more disciplined and potentially redeemed.
Ben Mitchell's Prison Sentence and Exit
Ben Mitchell was arrested in the United States for a credit card scam while seeking alternative treatment for his terminally ill partner, Lola Pearce. He was extradited and sentenced to six years in prison. The storyline allowed the character to exit without being killed off or leaving his daughter, Lexi, behind. Bowden, who played Ben for five years and nearly 600 episodes, acknowledged that the break was necessary for his own mental health. '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. 'The Max sat in front of you today was kind of a ghost, and they recognised that – I recognised that.'
Max Bowden on Ben's Transformation
Bowden told Inside Soap: 'I have a feeling that Ben is more disciplined. 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.' This marks a significant shift from Ben's previous troubled behaviour, including his relationship with Callum Highway, known as 'Ballum'. Callum moved on with Johnny Carter after Ben's imprisonment, leaving Ben heartbroken.
Emotional Prison Visit and Future Hopes
During his sentence, Ben was visited by his parents, Kathy Beale and Phil Mitchell. Phil opened up about his mental health struggles and suicide attempt, inspiring Ben to share his own pain over losing Callum. Kathy reminded Ben that love would come again and that he has a daughter to live for. The visit showed Ben's emotional maturity as he accepted the end of his marriage and focused on completing his sentence with hope. Whether Ben will return to Walford remains unconfirmed, but Bowden's comments suggest a potential comeback.
