EastEnders fans were left pleading with soap bosses on Tuesday following their decision to axe cast member Max Bowden from the role of Ben Mitchell.
The actor, 29, has been written out of the BBC serial after four years after he reportedly received warnings from bosses about his off-screen behaviour.
This week, soap bosses took to the official EastEnders Instagram page to share pictures of Perry Fenwick, 61, who plays Billy Mitchell, and Tony Clay, 32, who portrays Callum ‘Halfway’ Highway, with the caption: ‘We wonder what scene they’re reading… #EastEnders.’
The pair could be seen standing on the set as the flicked through a script together, with their characters being in the same family after Callum married Ben in 2022.
However, the photos left some fans wondering what may lie ahead for Callum – and Ben – after spotting Callum was still wearing his wedding ring in the snaps.
EastEnders fans were left pleading with soap bosses on Tuesday following their decision to axe cast member Max Bowden from the role of Ben Mitchell (L-R: Perry Fenwick, 61, who plays Billy Mitchell, and Tony Clay, 32, who portrays Callum ‘Halfway’ Highway pictured)
Max, 29, has been written out of the BBC serial after four years after he reportedly received warnings from bosses about his off-screen behaviour (Max pictured as Ben Mitchell last year)
Followers of the account took to the comments section to beg bosses not to let Max go, with some predicting he may not be gone for long with Callum still wearing his ring.
‘Callum still wearing his wedding ring has made me happy,’ wrote one person.
While someone else shared: ‘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.’
Someone else posted: ‘Bring Max Bowden back please. Callum needs his husband and Lexi needs her dad.’
While another fan shared: ‘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.’
‘Now we just need Max Bowden back,’ wrote another fan, while someone else commented: ‘Bring back Callum’s husband pls.’
And someone else remarked: ‘If you recast Ben we’re gonna have a problem EastEnders.’
Max’s contract playing Ben Mitchell was not renewed after he reportedly received warnings from bosses about his behaviour.
Soap bosses took to the official EastEnders Instagram page to share pictures of Perry Fenwick, 61, who plays Billy Mitchell, and Tony Clay, 32, who portrays Callum ‘Halfway’ Highway
Followers of the account took to the comments section to beg bosses not to let Max go, with some predicting he may not be gone for long with Callum still wearing his ring
The Sun on Sunday claimed that the decision not to renew Max’s contract was made after they had to discipline him.
A source said: ‘Max is ready to move on. He is proud of his time on the show and what he has achieved but he is focused on new projects and what he is doing next.’
It was reported that the actor had decisions with bosses for a chat with executives about his drama offscreen in 2022.
A TV source said: ‘Max was called in for a chat by executives. He is an extremely talented actor and was always a real pro on set. However, there were concerns that his partying lifestyle away from the set could start to prove a distraction.’
Off-screen, Max had been dating his co-star Shona McGarty, 32, for six months before they decided to call time on their romance. Shona will also leave the soap after 15 years in the coming weeks.
Sources claimed the pair were ‘inseparable’ following his split from girlfriend Roisin Buckle, and they made their relationship Instagram official in August 2022.
However, Max and Shona split in October 2022, with sources claiming the pair had decided to remain friends after Max welcomed a baby boy with his ex Roisin.
Their relationship began while his ex-girlfriend Roisin, 38, was pregnant with their child.
Max’s personal life hit the headlines when his romance with his EastEnders co-star Shona McGarty (left) first came to light in May 2022
Shona is known for her role as Whitney Dean in EastEnders (pictured with Max as Ben on the soap in 2019)
In September 2022, Max revealed he was a father for the first time following the birth of his son.
Roisin and Max both shared a sweet black and white photo of their son, who was born on September 19, 2022, as they revealed they had named him Reginald.
They revealed they were expecting their first child in April 2022. The soap star met Roisin at a pub in June 2021. The pair quickly became close, and in July went on holiday to Madeira.
The couple decided to separate in March 2022, while agreeing to co-parent once their son was born, however Roisin claimed in August that they had not been in contact for two months.
The same month, Max was spotted at a country music festival with his EastEnders colleague Shona at London’s O2.
Last month, Max broke his silence after being ‘axed’ as he told fans he had been ‘surrounded by love’ all day and was ‘feeling grateful’ as he celebrated his birthday, while thanking viewers for their support.
Alongside an image of the soap star enjoying a meal with family and friends, he wrote: ‘Been surrounded by love all day celebrating my birthday.
‘Grateful for family and friends. Thanks for all the messages. Big love.’
His last scenes will air in the spring but it is understood his character Ben, who has been played by numerous actors in the past, will not be killed off.
An EastEnders spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Max will be leaving EastEnders next year. We wish him all the best for the future.’
A TV insider told 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.’
Max, who is the sixth actor to play Ben, was involved in some of the soap’s biggest storylines of late.
The soap star met ex Roisin Buckle at a pub in June 2021. The pair quickly became close, and in July went on holiday to Madeira. The couple decided to separate in March 2022
Ben struggled to cope with the death of Lola Pearce-Brown (Danielle Harold) who was mother to his daughter Lexi.
He then developed eating disorder bulimia as he attempted to work through his grief.
Late last year, it was reported Max had a lucky escape after after being involved in a three-car collision in Surrey.
Max emerged unscathed but appeared to be shaken up following the accident in Sunbury-on-Thames, according to onlookers.
In pictures obtained by The Sun, the soap star emerged from the scene with no injuries, despite the vehicle’s bumper completely destroyed.
A source told the publication: ‘It was all very fast. We just saw this car was absolutely demolished and then my girlfriend said, “Is that Ben Mitchell?”
In September 2022, Max revealed he was a father for the first time following the birth of his son with ex Roisin
‘He looked pretty stunned by the whole thing. He must have been pretty badly shaken up.’
A Surrey Police spokeswoman said: ‘We were called to a collision involving three vehicles in Sunbury-on-Thames on Friday.
‘The collision occurred around 1.10pm just off the Sunbury Cross roundabout and involved a red Mazda, a black Mercedes and a grey Kia.
‘There were no injuries or arrests resulting from the incident.’
