EastEnders favourite leaves soap after four years as 'time on show is up'
Max Bowden has left EastEnders after playing fan favourite Ben Mitchell for four years.
It's been confirmed by the BBC soap that the actor will leave the role, with reports suggesting he will bow out in 2024. The actor has yet to confirm the news, while it follows the exit of actor Danny Walters who was killed off on Christmas Day.
An EastEnders spokeswoman told The Mirror: “Max will be leaving EastEnders next year. We wish him all the best for the future." Reports suggest there are no current plans for him to be killed off, while an exit storyline has yet to be planned.
The character is said to be bowing out of the BBC soap in Spring next year, after talks with bosses led to the decision for him to leave at the end of his current contract. There is currently nothing onscreen to suggest Ben will leave amid his marriage to Callum Highway, so fans will have to tune in to find out what leads to the sudden departure.
Soap star Max Bowden has left BBC EastEnders (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)According to reports, bosses decided not to renew Max's contract, despite the actor winning over fans with his portrayal of Phil Mitchell's son. Ben has been at the centre of some huge storylines in the past four years, including his eating disorder battle after being raped by Lewis.
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
A TV insider said to The Sun: “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.”
According to the Daily Star, the actor's exit could air "imminently" while there are talks over whether the character will ever return in the future. A BBC insider told the publication: "It has been a bit of a disaster but he has now left and won’t be coming back. Max came in and did a grand job in the role and fans did love him, but that is officially the end of the line for him on the soap."
They added: "Ben Mitchell could come to an end and that official end may be coming sooner than viewers think."
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on , , , , and .
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