James Martin enjoys bromance with EastEnders Ben Mitchell over food on This Morning
Chef gifts actor Harry Reid one of his knives after revealing he is a fan
JAMES Martin has found a new BFF in EastEnders star Harry Reid, as the Ben Mitchell actor admitted he was a big fan of the TV chef.
Harry appeared on Friday's edition of This Morning, which James was hosting with Anita Rani for the first time, to talk about his character's current storyline, but chat soon turned to how much of a foodie he was.
James was delighted to hear Harry reveal he was one of his favourite chefs, and that he had his cookbook at home.
Harry said: "I am a bit of foodie and I’m a massive fan of yours and I do actually have a cookbook at home but I’ve just bought a house and I’m moving so it’s packed in a box.
"I was looking around for it last night and I couldn’t find it."
But kindhearted James leaped to the rescue, producing a marker pen while saying: "This is something for you, don’t go wandering round the streets with this, but I’m going to give you one of my knives."
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As Harry looked delighted, he admitted he had to get a train on Friday evening so might look a bit suspicious, but James said the show would post it to him.
Anita added: "That’s a really special gift," while James joked: "I don’t want to see it on eBay either."
Harry had already had the chance to sample two of James dishes, as the star made a strawberry cheesecake and a chilli beef main, but aside from discussing his love of food, the 24-year-old opened up about how he was handling his alter ego's current big storyline.
Ben was left devastated on Albert Square this week when he discovered his boyfriend Paul had been killed after the pair were attacked by thugs following a night out in London's Soho.
While viewers think Ben knows more than he is letting on about his partners death, Harry admitted the scenes have taken their toll on him emotionally.
He said: "It does drain you. I go home with headaches. After stuff like that it was very draining."
Harry joined the soap in 2014 and is loving being part of the famous Mitchell family, although it was nerve-wracking at first.
He added: "It is daunting but exciting and you learn so much and the character is so layered.
"Ben has so many angles and little ticks, this is just another element.
"To have a tattoo on his finger of his boyfriend who he has lost is a big thing and it adds to it."
While Harry couldn't give much away about what's to come, he gave a small insight into why Ben was keeping some information to himself.
He said: "Ben always thinks about what other people are going to think. Now we know a bit more about the attack we can understand why he’s kept it to himself. His dad being the main problem with that.
"Stuff happened that night, you’ll find out more later."