EastEnders new boy Max Bowden ‘can’t wait’ to tackle this ICONIC role

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Max becomes the sixth actor to play Ben Mitchell!

EastEnders newcomer Max Bowden has revealed that he’s thrilled to be tackling the role of Ben Mitchell - the sixth actor to take on the part!

Harry Reid was the last star to play Ben, before departing Walford last year after four years in Albert Square.

Now, EastEnders has revealed that former Waterloo Road actor Max will be the new Ben.

Talking about playing “complicated and troubled” Ben, Max said: “Joining one of the most iconic families in soap is beyond exciting. I can’t wait to get started and see what’s in store for Ben.”

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EastEnders teased the exciting news on Twitter, declaring: “Ben Mitchell is coming home! And he won’t be alone. Lola will be with him, and so will their daughter, Lexi. But why are they heading back to Walford?”

One EastEnders fan joked: “Is Ben Mitchell a Time Lord or something… He’s had more Faces than Doctor Who!.”

As a baby, Ben was played by Matthew Silver before a succession of young actors took on the part, most famously, Harry Reid.

Ben Mitchell, Phil Mitchell, EastEnders

Harry Reid as Ben Mitchell in EastEnders

Last year Harry revealed on Sunday Brunch that he was ultimately “glad” to have left the show. “There’s obviously an essence of job security there. As an actor, it is such a hard thing – you want to pay the bills and you want to do the job you love. So you do have to make a choice.

“Obviously, I told you last time they wrote me out so they kind of gave me that push, but it was one that I’m glad they did, because now I can go out and do other stuff.”

Meanwhile, Max has has also enjoyed roles in Casualty and Doctors. But it’s fair to say EastEnders is easily his biggest ever part…

EastEnders continues on BBC1.

David Hollingsworth
Editor

David is the What To Watch Editor and has over 20 years of experience in television journalism. He is currently writing about the latest television and film news for What To Watch.


Before working for What To Watch, David spent many years working for TV Times magazine, interviewing some of television's most famous stars including Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, singer Lionel Richie and wildlife legend Sir David Attenborough. 


David started out as a writer for TV Times before becoming the title's deputy features editor and then features editor. During his time on TV Times, David also helped run the annual TV Times Awards. David is a huge Death in Paradise fan, although he's still failed to solve a case before the show's detective! He also loves James Bond and controversially thinks that Timothy Dalton was an excellent 007.


Other than watching and writing about telly, David loves playing cricket, going to the cinema, trying to improve his tennis and chasing about after his kids!