Max Bowden‘s new role has been revealed as his final scenes as Ben Mitchell in the BBC soap are set to air this week. 

The actor, 29, who plays the mechanic son of Phil Mitchell, will leave Albert Square and return to his old stomping ground – the theatre.

Set to star in Birdsong in November, Max’s character Ben will exit Walford after being faced with a six-year prison sentence.

Viewers were left stunned this week after police arrested Ben under an international warrant.

Despite insisting on his innocence and even having the confidence to tell an officer they would later apologise to him, Ben realised he had done something awful.

EastEnders star Max Bowden's new role has been revealed as his final scenes as Ben Mitchell are set to air on the BBC this week

EastEnders star Max Bowden's new role has been revealed as his final scenes as Ben Mitchell are set to air on the BBC this week

EastEnders star Max Bowden’s new role has been revealed as his final scenes as Ben Mitchell are set to air on the BBC this week 

The actor, 29, who plays the mechanic son of Phil Mitchell - he will leave Albert Square and his next role sees him performing in Birdsong at the theatre

The actor, 29, who plays the mechanic son of Phil Mitchell - he will leave Albert Square and his next role sees him performing in Birdsong at the theatre

The actor, 29, who plays the mechanic son of Phil Mitchell – he will leave Albert Square and his next role sees him performing in Birdsong at the theatre

He will be joining the 30th-anniversary tour of Birdsong, playing Jack Firebrace - Sebastian Faulks's epic story of love and loss- when it returns to the stage in 2024

He will be joining the 30th-anniversary tour of Birdsong, playing Jack Firebrace - Sebastian Faulks's epic story of love and loss- when it returns to the stage in 2024

He will be joining the 30th-anniversary tour of Birdsong, playing Jack Firebrace – Sebastian Faulks’s epic story of love and loss- when it returns to the stage in 2024

When solicitor Ritchie turned up at the station, it became very apparent that his past antics in the US had finally caught up with him.

He was charged in connection to his trip to America last year, where he attempted to get dying Lola Pearce onto a drugs trial but was unsuccessful.

Ben’s credit cards were blocked, but instead of going to the police, he stole someone else’s and spent thousands on hotels, car rental and a business class flight home.

In desperation, he begged Ritchie to help him, but she told him he could face up to six years in an American prison.

She went to tell the Mitchell family what Ben had done with the news sinking in that Ben was guilty of a serious crime.

Spiralling into a row between Callum, Phil and Jay, Lexi was forced to control the situation before Jay asked her to leave with Honey.

‘Jay, I’m a Mitchell,’ she said before turning to Ritchie and telling her: ‘We ain’t paying you to be quiet.’

Max's character Ben will exit Walford after being faced with a six-year prison sentence

Max's character Ben will exit Walford after being faced with a six-year prison sentence

Max’s character Ben will exit Walford after being faced with a six-year prison sentence

Viewers were left stunned this week after police arrested Ben under an international warrant. Despite insisting on his innocence and even having the confidence to tell an officer they would later apologise to him, Ben realised he had done something awful

Viewers were left stunned this week after police arrested Ben under an international warrant. Despite insisting on his innocence and even having the confidence to tell an officer they would later apologise to him, Ben realised he had done something awful

Viewers were left stunned this week after police arrested Ben under an international warrant. Despite insisting on his innocence and even having the confidence to tell an officer they would later apologise to him, Ben realised he had done something awful

The lawyer told them all: ‘Credit card fraud in America. He’s got a bail hearing tomorrow. The evidence is stacked pretty strongly against him.’

After the explosive episodes and ahead of his final EastEnders scene, Max took to Instagram to bid his goodbyes to the set and the crazy square.

He thanked his soap fans for accepting his version of Ben through an Instagram post on Tuesday.

Captioning his headshot, he wrote, ‘It’s been one hell of a ride! Thanks for taking Ben to your hearts and allowing my version into your lives.

‘I had an amazing five years at @bbceastendersand learnt a hell of a lot about myself and the craft I love so dearly; it got me through some very hard personal times and I will be forever grateful!

‘I really will never be able to thank everybody for the support enough, because the fans of the show are so passionate, caring, and invested and it enables us as actors to want to keep going and always be better; so I really do from the bottom of my heart appreciate every single person who has sent any sort of positivity my way over the last five years – I love you all.

‘Ben Mitchell 6.0 . Over and out. Goodbye EE! I’ll miss you all. X’

Viewers fled to his comment box to share their admiration of the role and to say their goodbyes.

After the explosive episodes and ahead of his final EastEnder scene, Max took to Instagram to bid his goodbyes to the set and the crazy square (pictured in September 2023)

After the explosive episodes and ahead of his final EastEnder scene, Max took to Instagram to bid his goodbyes to the set and the crazy square (pictured in September 2023)

After the explosive episodes and ahead of his final EastEnder scene, Max took to Instagram to bid his goodbyes to the set and the crazy square (pictured in September 2023)

After the explosive episodes and ahead of his final EastEnder scene, Max took to Instagram to bid his goodbyes to the set and the crazy square

After the explosive episodes and ahead of his final EastEnder scene, Max took to Instagram to bid his goodbyes to the set and the crazy square

After the explosive episodes and ahead of his final EastEnder scene, Max took to Instagram to bid his goodbyes to the set and the crazy square

Viewers fled to his comment box to share their admiration of the role and to say their goodbyes

Viewers fled to his comment box to share their admiration of the role and to say their goodbyes

Viewers fled to his comment box to share their admiration of the role and to say their goodbyes

One penned: ‘This guy should have never left his role as Ben Mitchell. Best actor Eastenders has ever had !!!’

‘Great job bro! Well done. You smashed it xxx see you on the outside!!!! X’

‘The best Ben Mitchell there ever was!’

‘Congratulations on a fantastic 5 years!! Xx’

‘Best Ben Mitchell ever!!!! you icon brother’

‘Sad you’re going and you’ve been amazing. Huge good luck for your next adventure’

‘You are to Ben Mitchell what David Tennant is to Dr Who. . . The best version.’

‘Not the same without you. Thank you for portraying such a complex character. Ben Mitchell became such an iconic queer character because of you. Good luck to you.’

‘You are the best of the best. An exciting new chapter for you is literally just about to unfold. You’re simply brilliant!’

After leaving the set after five drama-filled years, Max will return to an old role.

He will be joining the 30th-anniversary tour of Birdsong, playing Jack Firebrace – Sebastian Faulks’s epic story of love and loss- when it returns to the stage in 2024.

The critically acclaimed show, adapted by Rachel Wagstaff and directed by Alastair Whatley, tells the story of one man’s journey through an all-consuming love affair and into the horror of the First World War.

Max said: ‘I’m so excited to be collaborating with Original Theatre again on a project close to my heart. Birdsong highlights the tragedy of war, yet the beauty of humanity simultaneously through strong relationships under extreme circumstances, and I can’t wait to bring Jack Firebrace to life under their guidance.’

‘I’m so excited to be collaborating with Original Theatre again on a project close to my heart,’ Max said.

‘Birdsong highlights the tragedy of war, yet the beauty of humanity simultaneously through strong relationships under extreme circumstances, and I can’t wait to bring Jack Firebrace to life under their guidance.’

Max previously starred in the 2016 tour of Birdsong, originally playing the role of Tipper.

Director Alastair Whatley said of Bowden re-joining the cast: ‘Max joined us to play the character of Tipper, a young soldier, in the 2016 tour of Birdsong and now, the best part of a decade later, returns to play the wonderful role of Jack Firebrace.

‘I cannot wait to get back in the rehearsal room with Max to explore one of Sebastian’s most unforgettable characters.’

In pre-war France, an Englishman, Stephen Wraysford, takes on a dangerous affair with Isabelle Azaire that turns their world upside down.

As war breaks out over the idyll of his former life, Stephen must lead his men through the Battle of the Somme carnage.

Faced with the unprecedented horror of the war Stephen clings to the memory of Isabelle as his world explodes around him.

Birdsong will open at Salisbury Playhouse on 6 September before visiting Leeds, Cambridge, Richmond, Liverpool, Nottingham, Cheltenham, Guildford, Chichester, Norwich, Malvern, and Bath.

After leaving the set after five drama-filled years, Max will return to an old role. He will be joining the 30th-anniversary tour of Birdsong, playing Jack Firebrace - Sebastian Faulks's epic story of love and loss- when it returns to the stage in 2024 (pictured 2019)

After leaving the set after five drama-filled years, Max will return to an old role. He will be joining the 30th-anniversary tour of Birdsong, playing Jack Firebrace - Sebastian Faulks's epic story of love and loss- when it returns to the stage in 2024 (pictured 2019)

After leaving the set after five drama-filled years, Max will return to an old role. He will be joining the 30th-anniversary tour of Birdsong, playing Jack Firebrace – Sebastian Faulks’s epic story of love and loss- when it returns to the stage in 2024 (pictured 2019)

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