EastEnders fans puzzled as they issue plea to soap bosses after star is axed

27 February 2024 , 20:18

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Max Bowden will be leaving this year (Image: BBC / Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

EastEnders fans been left all saying the same thing after the soap shared new behind-the-scenes shots teasing future episodes.

Long-time cast member Perry Fenwick, 61 - who has been playing Billy Mitchell on the BBC soap since 1998 - and 32-year-old Tony Clay, who has played Callum ‘Halfway’ Highway since 2018, were snapped together. The boys are characters from the same family, as Callum married into the Mitchell family in 2022 when he tied the knot with Ben.

On Tuesday, the BBC’s official EastEnders Instagram account showed Perry and Tony together as they read some lines on the set of the iconic soap. The duo were flicking through pages of scripts as the behind-the-scenes camera team clicked away.

The images were shared via the main grid along with a caption stating: "We wonder what scene they’re reading... #EastEnders" - while the snaps showed Perry and Tony wearing puffy coats and flicking through a script together. The boys looked confused and intrigued by the words they were reading - and then posed with Tony's arm around Perry and both lads smiling broadly.

Fans noticed the pair looked confused by the script - and suggested they wondered where Ben Mitchell has gone (BBC)

Perry has played Billy Mitchell since 1998 and Tony has played Callum Highway since 2018 (BBC)

But soap fans all had the same thing to say in response to the snaps: where's Ben? As devout fans of the BBC soap will know, it was announced at the end of last year that Ben Mitchel actor Max Bowden is exiting the show after five years of service. One New Year's Eve, a BBC spokesperson confirmed he would be leaving the show, saying: "We wish him all the best for the future."

EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness

Fans had been concerned that it could mean Tony's character Callum could be exiting the show too as he and Ben are married. But the rehearsal scene of Tony and Perry together reassured many that the character is going nowhere. One relieved fan wrote in reply to the Instagram post: "I'm glad to see Tony/Callum still with the Mitchells. Max Bowden has been phenomenal as Ben. He's given him such nuance and heart... Max is one of the all-time greats in my opinion. He made the role his own. I hope he can return one day."

Another fan, searching the image for plot clues, wrote: "Callum still wearing his ring.... Not sure if that's significant, depends when filming." Others noted the confused expressions on Tony and Perry's faces, and speculated they were thinking: "Where is Ben?" while reading the scripts. Another agreed, writing: "He must be wondering 'Where the heck is Max?!'"

Ben Mitchell actor Max Bowden will exit the soap in the coming months (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Another commented: "Oh this is lovely. Great to see Callum still in with the Mitchells and still wearing his wedding ring. Bring his husband back soon, please. They need each other." And another wrote: "Finally some new Tony Clay content he looks so good I love him I love his short hair bring max back please so happy he is still wearing his wedding ring together forever."

However, others expressed a hope that Ben is being recast instead of written out of the show. One long-time EastEnders fan wrote: "Sorry but I loved Harry Reid as Ben. If you are gonna change his character again! Then bring back Harry."

While the BBC have confirmed that Max will stop playing Ben Mitchell this year - after he joined the soap in 2019 - they have not confirmed when he will exit or if his character will be killed off. Ben Mitchell was first played by Matthew Silver in 1996 and he left the role in 1998. Ben was then played by Morgan Whittle from 1999 until 2001, Charlie Jones from 2006 until 2010, Joshua Pascoe from 2010 until 2012, and fan favourite Harry Reid from 2014 until 2018.

Mirror.co.uk