EastEnders boss confirms devastating Ben Mitchell bulimia storyline
TROUBLEMAKING Ben Mitchell has gone through his fair share of traumatic events in the past year.
However, EastEnders bosses have confirmed another harrowing storyline which will see him suffer from an eating disorder.
The mechanic portrayed by Max Bowden survived a horrific rape after a drunken evening with Lewis Butler.
While he managed to find the support he needed to overcome his trauma, Ben has since had to keep his chin up after finding out Lola Pearce had been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour.
With the hairstylist's health on the decline and a tear-jerking exit in the works, Ben struggles to take control, most notably for his daughter Lexi.
Sadly, it's all set to go downhill from here as Ben will restrict certain aspects of his life, particularly food and exercise.
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Soap bosses confirmed Ben, much like Honey Mitchell before him, will be at the centre of an eating disorder storyline.
As it progresses, BBC One viewers will see the character hide his disordered eating from his loved ones and he will suffer silently by imposing heavier restrictions on his diet... while binging and purging in secret.
EastEnders is working closely with to ensure the storyline is portrayed as accurately and sensitively as possible.
Speaking about the upcoming storyline, executive producer Chris Clenshaw said: " It was vital for us to work alongside Beat to accurately present, and sensitively portray Ben’s bulimia storyline."
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"Max’s performance has thoughtfully portrayed the isolating reality of an eating disorder with compassion and understanding as we explore how the traumatic events of Ben’s past have affected his mental health."
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Viewers of the London-based program have already rumbled the storyline as characters have dropped small hints about Ben drinking heavily but failing to eat.
In recent scenes, his husband Callum Highway noticed he hadn't been eating as much as he should and urged him to go easy on the alcohol - but his warning wasn't heard.
As he celebrated his promotion in The Vic in earlier scenes, he also told Ben to get a packet of crisps to sober up - which the troublemaker ignored as well.
Who will Ben turn to for support?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
