EastEnders viewers will be waving goodbye to Ben Mitchell, played by actor Max Bowden, this week on the BBC soap after the character and star were seemingly axed by bosses
EastEnders' Ben Mitchell is leaving the BBC soap very soon in devastating scenes, with actor Max Bowden now confirming his exit.
Max will bow out of the role after five years with his final scenes thought to be airing on Thursday night. The BBC soap has yet to confirm whether the latest episode is the last we will see of the character.
Fans are curious to know whether Ben will return with a new face following actor Max being axed from the role, and him seeming to hint on Instagram that he would not be returning, saying "over and out". The show gave zero details about the future of Ben from the moment the news broke that Max was leaving the role last December.
Viewers had been left in the dark as to what would happen to the character and when he might leave, right up until recent spoilers this month revealed a prison twist. Amid fans calling it all "rushed" and some being unhappy with how the exit was handled, why exactly is Ben leaving the show?
Why is Ben leaving EastEnders, and when are his final scenes?
Ben will leave the show after being arrested for an international crime. A warrant was out for his arrest and on Monday, and fans saw police catching up with him due to a crime committed in America.
Ben had been there when his pal Lola Pearce was sick, with him trying to secure treatment for her brain tumour but she sadly died. It seems while Ben was there he committed fraud, and now the crime is catching up with him.
The character faces being imprisoned for a long time and in America, not the UK. Anyone who has seen the episode airing on iPlayer on Thursday, before it airs on TV this evening, will know what his final scenes seemingly are with it thought to be his final episode.
On Monday (April 1st) evening, Ben did not appear but it was confirmed that he would be leaving Walford when Callum came to tell Kathy that Ben pleaded guilty to the charges of fraud and was being extradited to the US on Tuesday.
Why is actor Max Bowden leaving the role, and will he be replaced?
Max's exit from the show was reported late last year, before being confirmed by the BBC soap. No details were given about how or why he was leaving, while reports suggested bosses wanted to write him out.
The BBC soap told The Mirror in December: "Max will be leaving EastEnders next year. We wish him all the best for the future." Max did speak about his exit to fans while never commenting on it until recently.
Reports at the time suggested that as Max's contract came to an end, bosses decided not to extend it and to write out both the character and Max. A cast member had revealed in February that Max was no longer filming, while the BBC soap has not revealed if the character will be recast again.
What has Max said about his exit?
Taking to Instagram this week, he wrote: "It’s been one hell of a ride! Thanks for taking Ben to your hearts and allowing my version into your lives. I had an amazing five years at @bbceastenders and learnt a hell of a lot about myself and the craft I love so dearly; it got me through some very hard personal times and I will be forever grateful!
I really will never be able to thank everybody for the support enough, because the fans of the show are so passionate, caring, and invested and it enables us as actors to want to keep going and always be better; so I really do from the bottom of my heart appreciate every single person who has sent any sort of positivity my way over the last five years - I love you all. Ben Mitchell 6.0 over and out. Goodbye EE! I’ll miss you all. X."
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.* Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .