THEGAYUK

Tag: Ben Mitchell

All the latest breaking news on the EastEnders character, Ben Mitchell. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Ben Mitchell.

  • Ben Mitchell is coming back to Albert Square

    Ben Mitchell is coming back to Albert Square

    But will be played by a completely different actor

    Ben Mitchell will be coming back to EastEnders in a dramatic story, but viewers will notice that the character is no longer played by Harry Reid. The new actor is in fact, Max Bowden. He will be, in fact, the sixth actor to play the role.

    According to the BBC, Max Bowden will be taking on the role of Ben Mitchell, a character that just like his father never seems to be far from trouble. During his previous time in the Square, Ben was at the heart of many storylines including killing Heather Trott, his turbulent relationship with his father, Phil, and faking his relationship with Abi Branning to hide his sexuality.

    On top of this, Ben had to cope with losing his one true love, Paul Coker, after they were both involved in an unprovoked homophobic attack.

    This isn’t the first time a gay character has left and then come back with a different actor in the role. Johnny Carter was originally played by Sam Strike but was replaced in 2016 when Ted Reily took over the role.

    Who is Max Bowden?

    Max Bowden is best known for playing Justin Fitzgerald in Waterloo Road and has also appeared in other television and theatre roles including the UK tour of Birdsong. Speaking about joining EastEnders, Max said: “I’m so excited to be joining the cast of EastEnders and taking on the role of Ben Mitchell. I’ve always been a fan of the show so to be 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.”

    Kate Oates (Senior Executive Producer, EastEnders, Holby City and Casualty) added: “A character like Ben, with his rich history, ‘complicated’ family and complex psychology, is pure gold. With Max in the role, we will be exploring the aspects of Ben’s character that have been allowed to develop during his time away from the Square: unfettered by old loyalties, and out of the long shadow of his father, Phil.”

    Kate recently said that she was looking to introduce a gay bar to Albert Square, saying “We are looking at opening a gay bar on the square which will be a super-cool precinct where gay and straight characters can all just hang out, and loads of stories can cross and should just be something really exciting, really fun, really visual and feel really true to multicultural London.

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  • Ben Mitchell’s Gay Lover Quits EastEnders

    As Johnny Carter comes back to the soap Paul Coker is about to leave Walford Square.

    CREDIT: (C) BBC - Photographer: Nicky Johnston
    CREDIT: (C) BBC – Photographer: Nicky Johnston

    EastEnders it seems has a one in and one out policy for gay characters as Johnny Carter makes a return to the square and Paul Coker, Ben Mitchell’s gay love interest is set to leave.

    The star who plays Paul, Jonny Labey took to twitter to announce his departure saying,

    “WOW Thank you for your support but there’s still SO MUCH to happen for Paul so don’t lose hope, this is JUST THE START.”

     

    ADVERT

    [adinserter block=”1″]

     

    (C) BBC – Photographer: Jack Barnes

     

    Last year Ben Mitchell and Paul Coker caused controversy with some viewers after the pair had a raunchy gay sex scene in a funeral parlour. The scene prompted numerous complaints to OFCOM.

    SPOILER ALERT

    Ben Mitchell And Paul Coker kiss
    CREDIT: (C) BBC Kieron McCarron

     

    Ben, who is the son of hard man Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) has been trying to keep his love affair under wraps from the rest of the square. However all is revealed next week when the pair share a full on smooch in the Queen Vic.

    The kiss, it seems, is too much for alcoholic Phil, who storms out of the pub in disgust.

    Speaking about the actor’s impending departure a spokesperson for the soap said,

     ‘We can confirm Jonny will be leaving the show later this year. We wish him all the best for the future.’

     

  • Ben Mitchell And Paul Coker Get Caught In The Act

    Major awks ahead for Ben Mitchell in Eastenders as he and Paul Coker are caught in the act by his pa Phil.

    It seems the pair have a thing for risky places to make whoopie, the last time they were at it, the frisky pair were in a room with a corpse, in a funeral parlour. The amorous scene landed the Beeb in trouble when concerned members of the public made official complaints.
    This time Phil Mitchell catches Ben and Paul in the middle of the act. Up until now Ben’s sexuality has been kept under wraps from his family. Fair to say, Phil is stunned to have stumbled in on the pair.
    A shocked Phil takes in the scene as the love birds sheepishly put their clothes back on.. But we’ll have to wait to see how Walford’s hard man reacts to the revelation that his son is gay.

  • EastEnders Newcomer Victim Of Online Homophobic Abuse

    EastEnders’ newcomer Jonny Labey has spoken out about the homophobic threats he’s received online.

    The star whose character, Paul Coker had an on-screen romp with Ben Micthell, which attracted 48 official complaints to OFCom has also been a target for abuse on social media.

    Speaking to GT in their new issue, Jonny said that feedback on the scene and his character was:

    “…all very positive, I thought, but it wasn’t until I got curious and started nosing around that I found the negative ones.

    “It doesn’t matter if it’s gay or not, there’s people that don’t agree or aren’t comfortable watching. It’s 2015, you need to move on from this stupid discrimination against gay men!

    “People would’ve been fine if it was a guy and a girl kissing.”

  • Top Stories: Enrique, Harry’s Foreskin, Essential Gay Films and My First Porn

    From Enrique Inglesias’s penis selfie to the BBC defending an implied gay sex scene, here are the top 6 stories you read on TheGayUK this week.

    First off when pop star hunk Enrique took a selfie of his penis on a fan’s camera, the world went wild for it, despite not actually seeing the “hero”. We’ve been searching for the camera on which he took the picture ever since.

    Then a Canadian penis activist made news when he wanted every teenage fan to know that Harry Styles has a foreskin. He is on a crusade to get people, especially in the US, to know that foreskins are beautiful and natural… okay.

    Our very own Greg Mitchell made a splash with his column on his very first porn shoot. Greg shared his experience of working for a top US porn producer.

    The BBC found itself having to defend an “implied” sex scene between Ben Mitchell and Paul Coker after 48 complaints were made to OfCom.

    Openly gay Conservative candidate for London Mayor Ivan Massow released an interesting campaign in which he said he wanted to stay overnight with a new Londoner every night for 30 nights.

    and finally…

    Also the Scottish Pride event, Free Pride, came under intense criticism this week after it decided to ban all non-trans drag queen from performing at its event. It later reversed it’s policy after becoming the focus of international headlines.

     

     

  • EastEnders Defends Ben Mitchell Gay Sex Scene

    EastEnders producers have defended the gay sex scene between the characters Ben Mitchell and Paul Coker saying the sex was implied rather than explicit.

    The scene which attracted 48 complaints to OfCom has been defended by the BBC with a spokesperson saying,

    “The millions of regular ‘EastEnders’ fans who tune in each week know and expect dramatic storylines.”

    “We are always mindful of our time slot in which we are shown and the scenes in question were implied and not explicit.”

     

    This isn’t the first time the BBC has had to defend gay storylines on EastEnders, in 1987 the BBC received a record number of complaints when Colin kissed a then under age Barry.

    The fallout from the kiss raised questions in the House of Commons.

  • Ben Mitchell Gay Sex Scene On EastEnders Attracts 48 Complaints

    An implied gay sex scene could land the BBC in trouble with OfCom after 48 complaints were made to the regulatory body.

    A scene between the characters Ben Mitchell (Harry Reid) and Paul Coker saw the pair getting topless and kissing in front of an open coffin in a funeral parlour.

    Speaking to Digital Spy, a spokesperson for the BBC said,

    “The millions of regular ‘EastEnders’ fans who tune in each week know and expect dramatic storylines.

    “We are always mindful of our time slot in which we are shown and the scenes in question were implied and not explicit.”

    OfCom commented that it would access the complaints before deciding whether it needs to investigate or not.

  • Here It Is: The Johnny Carter And Ben Mitchell Kiss

    After weeks of will they? won’t they?, is he?, isn’t he?, Ben Mitchell and Johnny Carter finally share a smooch.

    CREDIT: (C) BBC - Photographer: Kieron McCarron
    CREDIT: (C) BBC – Photographer: Kieron McCarron

    (more…)

  • EastEnders: Explosive Story Between Ben And Johnny Carter

    It’s all hotting up between Johnny Carter and Ben Mitchell after Ben tries to sneak a kiss.

    But it doesn’t seem all ends well for the pair who have been flirting in an awkward off and on again away. Earlier at a Halloween party, Ben (Harry Reid) told Johnny that he wasn’t gay, but perhaps he’s not quite sure…

    The pair seen are sitting quietly on the stairs and Ben tries to steal a little kiss from Johnny, however, Ben becomes aware that the pair are being watched by Abi and they make up a story for their actions.

    However explosive action takes place later on as Ben insults Johnny at Lee’s 22nd birthday at The Albert, which leads to a fight between Lee Carter (Danny-Boy Latchard) who defends his brother, using fists first. The on-street brawl leaves Ben bloody and shaken.

    Abi leads Ben back to her house, but not before telling Johnny to stay well clear of Ben.

    Episode airs 18th November 2014 on BBC1

  • Is love in the air for Johnny Carter?

    Things look to be hotting up between Johnny Carter and Ben on Eastenders – but Ben has something to tell Johnny.

    Oh we want this to happen – quite badly, but it looks as though Johnny (Sam Strike) is going to get the ‘I’m not gay’ treatment from Ben (Harry Reid) this week on Eastenders.

    The pair have been getting close but during a Halloween party at the Queen Vic Johnny and Ben have a moment, and a furious Ben tells Johnny in no uncertain terms that he isn’t one of the boys.

    So our Johnny may have to wait just a little longer for love.