EastEnders viewers are not happy as new spoilers revealed how Ben Mitchell would likely leave the BBC soap after five years.
It was announced months ago that Max Bowden would be leaving the show as Ben, after taking on the role in 2019. There were conflicting reports as to whether the actor quit the show or was written out, while fans were devastated about the twist.
Now, new spoilers have teased a prison exit for the character thanks to a historic crime, thought to have happened while he was in America. Ben had visited the US last year amid pal Lola Pearce dying on the show, after battling a brain tumour.
There is some confusion as to what Ben could possibly have done to have led to an arrest and a possible exit for the character so abruptly, given he wasn't in America for very long. That said, the soap has yet to confirm specific details yet about the storyline or the exit, with spoilers not going into too much detail.
What we do know is that his loved ones are in turmoil as they await news and try to figure out what is going on, as he's arrested in scenes to air next week. But his family aren't the only ones unhappy with the news, as viewers share their dislike of the plot and the exit in general.
With it thought this will lead to Max's exit as Ben, viewers have admitted they may even switch off from the BBC soap in the fallout to his looming departure, not happy with the scenes that are planned. Spoilers reveal Ben protests his innocence as he is held at the Walford police station when details of a previous crime resurface.
Later in the week, Phil takes a call from Ben as he shares a request while Ben's daughter Lexi is fearful as she learns what's happened, barely a year on from her mother's death. Phil's actions spark suspicion with Ben's mother Kathy, while Ben's husband Callum uses his profession to his advantage to try and help - but ultimately it seems this storyline will end with Ben departing in some way.
Taking to X, viewers fumed over the plot and the looming end of Ballum [Ben and Callum], given Callum isn't leaving the show and Ben is. One fan posted: "I won’t forgive ee for doing this. I won’t be watching either after bens exit."
Another posted: "Axing Ben, and his abysmal exit storyline adding yet more trauma to his character." A third said: "They’re doing Ben so dirty. After investing five years in developing his character, you'd expect them to care more about his exit!"
The comments kept on coming, with a fourth reading: "Glad I stopped watching EE months ago and won't be watching it again Ballum were the best thing in years and to ruin them like this is a disgrace going to miss Ben Max has been the best its EE loss." A fifth fan said: "The only good thing about this is that we get a Phil and Callum heart to heart. Everything else is contrived nonsense. I know Ben’s exit was seemingly unplanned but they could have surely come up with something better than this."
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 .