Ben Mitchell leaves Eastenders almost empty handed as mystery assailant steals the heist money – and Mel Owen’s gang is hot on his tail
In the character's final scenes on the show, Ben is seen arriving in France without the stolen cash he thought he had. With just enough to get him by, viewers are left wondering what could come of the light-fingered mechanic
Tilly Pearce
Ben Mitchell discovers that someone has stolen his heist money at customs on EastEnders
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
End of dialog window.
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.
Tilly Pearce
BEN Mitchell has officially left Eastenders - and while he made it out alive, viewers have been left wondering how long he can survive.
The tricky mechanic, played by Harry Reid, bowed out of the soap on tonight's episode by taking money stolen from the heist and legging it onto a ferry at Dover.
6
Ben Mitchell has officially left Eastenders - and the UK
Unfortunately for him, returning character Mel tracked him down - and on the cross over to Europe, pleaded with her friend's son to reconsider his plan to do a runner.
Despite Mel trying to sympathise with him over drinks and chats about his dad Phil and life in Walford, the bargaining fell on deaf ears.
Refusing to budge from his plan, the pair's friendly attitude soon gives way to something darker.
As she realises she's fighting a losing battle, Mel warns him he "can't outrun himself" would be "dead within the week" if he fled the ship with the cash.
6
Mel takes the ferry to give Ben a chance to come clean and return home
Giving him one last chance to come clean, Ben spits: "I do remember my dad talking about you. He was right - you are unhinged."
Walking away from the livid Mel, she calls one of her partners-in-crime and is seen chillingly telling them: "He's all yours."
6
Cocky Ben refuses to budge and is determined to head out on his own
However, things clearly aren't going to plan for either of them - and as Ben arrives at customs he discovers that the plastic bag full of cash he's been carrying is a fake.
Instead, he's been walking around with stack of Walford Gazettes in its place - meaning he's been double crossed.
6
The mechanic was given a stark awakening at customs as it's discovered his cash is actually just newspapers
6
Still managing to make it out with a wad of cash, Ben starts his new life on the run
Left with an envelope full of cash, Ben appears to look on the bright side and heads off for his new life on the continent.
But as he walked away from viewers forever, the camera panned to see Ciara Maguire waiting for him in the terminal.
Fans have taken to Twitter to say goodbye to Harry Reid, who has been part of the show for the last four years - and the fifth actor to play the troubled Ben Mitchell.
Sending their well-wishes, one fan wrote: "Tbh im gutted no longer part of out of the Ben Mitchell’s he by far the best one and wish him all the best for whatever lays ahead but what a shame for loosing an amazing person"
6
Unfortunately for him, Ciara is hot on his tail, and doesn't look pleased
Another said: "Not ready to say goodbye to ben tonight 😢😢 "
"Feels like Ben is getting the Ronnie and Roxy treatment brought so much to the show just to be given a half arsed exit storyline #Eastenders" said another unhappy fan.
While a third added: "All the best Harry! But please let Ben live "
