Ben Mitchell leaves Eastenders almost empty handed as mystery assailant steals the heist money – and Mel Owen’s gang is hot on his tail

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.

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.

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."

 

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.

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.

 

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"