EastEnders actor Max Bowden has reportedly been axed from the BBC One soap after his contract was not renewed at a recent meeting.
The 29-year-old actor has been playing Ben Mitchell to critical acclaim for four years now.
However, he will now be leaving the EastEnders next spring. And it’s fair to say soap fans are not impressed by the decision. They have commented on Entertainment Daily’s Facebook page in their thousands to say it’s a big mistake. Huge. Many have insisted they will not be watching in future once Max has gone.
Max Bowden will leave EastEnders next year
According to The Sun, Max’s character will leave Walford, but is unlikely to be killed off.
The tabloid claims that the actor met up with bosses who decided not to renew his contract when it ends in March – and that execs had expressed concern over his private life hitting headlines.
“There has been a lot of noise around him for a bit too long and that can take away from the drama on the show,” the source said.
“He went in for a meeting as his contract was up for renewal next year. No one knew how it was going to go and following discussions, it was decided that he would leave. Bosses have yet to plan his exit storyline but Ben is not a character that they would kill off as we’ve already seen in all the previous recasts.”
Meanwhile, a BBC spokesperson said: “We wish him all the best for the future.”
Fans speak out as they threaten to switch EastEnders off
Max was the sixth actor to take on the Ben Mitchell role. And fans have declared him by far the best. They are not impressed with the decision to axe him and many have expressed that they will boycott the show over this decision.
Writing on ED!’s Facebook page, one said: “This is madness, I only care about his ability as an actor. What he does off screen, as long as he has not committed a crime, leave him alone. He played the best version of Ben ever. BBC has lost the plot. Too much drama, no humour, definitely going to stop viewing now.”
Another added: “Best Ben. EastEnders have had. DO NOT RECAST HIM. You will be sure to lose viewers if he goes.”
“He has been the best one playing Ben,” said one more. “It’s his business his private life, why should he be axed? Hope he gets reinstated or I for one won’t be watching it anymore and I have watched it from the beginning.”
A further annoyed fan said: “They are getting rid of all the good ones, won’t be watching much longer.”
“Bet half the top producers writers etc have had ‘private’ issues and they’re all still in a job!!!! Private lives are ‘private’ nothing to do with his job!!! If they bring in yet another, bet a lot of people will stop watching. Beyond a joke!!!” shared someone else.
Max Bowden romance with Shona McGarty
In May 2022, Max hit headlines when he started to date 32-year-old Shona McGarty, who plays Whitney Dean in the soap.
At the time, Max’s ex partner Roisin Buckle, 38, was pregnant and she claimed she thought they were just on a break.
But the co-stars’ whirlwind romance ended six months later.
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During his time on the soap Max has been involved in some of the show’s biggest storylines. While he was involved in Danielle Harold’s heartbreaking brain tumour Lola storyline, Ben’s character struggled to cope with her death and developed an eating disorder bulimia. “Max has tackled some serious storylines in the last year, especially when his character stopped eating before breaking down and admitting that he had a problem,” a source told The Mirror.
Over the festive period, Max was unscathed after being involved in three car collision.
Read more: EastEnders star Max Bowden breaks silence amidst calls for him to be axed
EastEnders usually airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
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