Max Bowden and Ricky Champ are set to reprise their roles as Ben Mitchell and Stuart Highway in EastEnders for a brief stint later this autumn. The actors are currently filming scenes for the funeral of Jonno, the violent and homophobic father of Callum and Stuart.
Bowden left the soap in March 2024 when Ben was extradited to the US for credit card fraud, committed in a desperate attempt to save his daughter Lexi's mother, Lola, from a terminal brain tumour. Champ last appeared in 2022, with Stuart leaving Walford with his wife Rainie due to mental health struggles.
A first-look image shows Ben in handcuffs alongside Stuart, Callum (Tony Clay) and Johnny (Charlie Suff), all dressed for the funeral. However, Ben may not get the reunion he hoped for with husband Callum, as Callum recently cheated on him with Johnny.
Both characters are only back for a short period: Ben is on day release from prison, and Stuart has a life away from the Square with Rainie. But as the show notes, 'a lot can happen in a short amount of time' in Walford.
Earlier this year, The Sun reported that new executive producer Ben Wadey decided to bring Bowden back, with a potential full-time return possible down the line. Champ's return is expected to be limited.
