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NOT AGAIN BEN

Eastenders Ben Mitchell returns – but where are the FIVE previous actors who played him now?

BEN Mitchell is set to return to EastEnders – and he’ll be played by yet another actor.

Former Waterloo Road star Max Bowden will be the sixth actor to take on the role. So let’s find out what happened to his predecessors.

The five previous Ben Mitchells: Matthew Silver (1996–1998), Morgan Whittle (1999–2001), Charlie Jones (2006–2010), Joshua Pascoe (2010–2012) and Harry Reid (2014–2018)

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The five previous Ben Mitchells: Matthew Silver (1996–1998), Morgan Whittle (1999–2001), Charlie Jones (2006–2010), Joshua Pascoe (2010–2012) and Harry Reid (2014–2018)

The character was first introduced in 1996 and was last played by Harry Reid, but will now be portrayed by Max.

Bowden has also appeared in Casualty and Doctors, will begin filming on the BBC1 soap this week.

He will reappear in Walford alongside fellow returning character Lola, played by Danielle Harold, and their daughter Lexi.

Matthew Silver played baby Ben

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Matthew Silver played baby Ben

The original Ben Mitchell – Matthew Silver

Matthew played baby Ben from 1996–1998. Since leaving Walford, little is known about the Original Ben Mitchell.

But it doesn’t look like he pursued a career in acting in his later years.

Matthew’s IMDB profile only lists his role in EastEnders, where he starred in 14 episodes.

Morgan Whittle played Ben as a toddler

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Morgan Whittle played Ben as a toddler

The second Ben Mitchell – Morgan Whittle

Morgan Whittle played Ben as a toddler from 1999–2001.

In total, he starred in 11 episodes of the hit BBC One soap.

And, just like Matthew, it seems he stopped acting when he left – his IMDB page only lists EastEnders among his credits, and little is known about him these days.

Charlie Jones was in the soap from 2006 until 2010

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Charlie Jones was in the soap from 2006 until 2010

Charlie is now 20 and looks very different to lad in the glasses from the show

cjone5_/Instagram
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Charlie is now 20 and looks very different to lad in the glasses from the show

The third Ben Mitchell – Charlie Jones

Ben Mitchell was absent from Walford for five years – until Charlie Jones took over in 2006 and remained until 2010.

Charlie took on the role of the ten-year-old in 2006, when the character returned to Albert Square following the “death” of mum Kathy Beale – who later turned out to be alive and kicking.

His most memorable storyline was the physical and mental abuse he suffered at the hands of his dad Phil’s girlfriend Stella Crawford.

After he spilled the beans on the couple’s wedding day Stella (played by Sophie Thompson) took her own life by throwing herself off a roof.

Now 21, Charlie is studying acting at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts – and he looks very different to his Walford days.

Joshua was in the role up until 2012

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Joshua was in the role up until 2012
Former Eastenders actor Joshua Pascoe refers to a taxi driver as a 'p***'

The fourth Ben Mitchell – Joshua Pascoe

Joshua Pascoe took over from Charlie in 2010, and he remained in the role until 2012.

He was dumped from the soap after being arrested for an alleged sex assault. It is thought no charges were brought.

Months earlier he had been kicked out of stage school over claims of bullying.

He was also caught on video ranting “some f*****g P***’ probably took it” after losing his wallet on a night out.

Since EastEnders, has starred in two films – Just Charlie (2017) and A Suburban Fairytale (2017).

Harry Reid was the last actor to play Ben

Handout
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Harry Reid was the last actor to play Ben

The fourth Ben Mitchell – Harry Reid

Harry Reid assumed the role in 2014, and remained in Walford up until 2018.

Harry quit the soap as Ben headed off to France with a chunk of the heist money.

Ben left Albert Square on a ferry from Dover bound for Calais, having stolen the money from the heist from under dad Phil’s nose – which turned out to be fake leaving him with just one wad of cash.

When he left the soap, he had a brief stint treading the boards in Witness For The Prosecution at London’s County Hall.

He played Leonard – a character accused of murdering a widow to inherit her wealth.


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