TROUBLED times are ahead for Ben Mitchell after soap bosses teased a harrowing eating disorder battle.
The EastEnders mechanic goes a step too far when he lashes out against Vinny Panesar. Can he get the he clearly needs?
Ben Mitchell is spiralling out of control once again
Vinny Panesar is targeted by the troublemaker
Can his loved ones make him see sense?
Ben Mitchell (portrayed by Max Bowden) has worked very hard at getting his life back together after being raped by Lewis Butler.
But his past traumas get the best of him as he struggles to keep track of things ahead of Lola Pearce’s emotional death.
The hairstylist was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and has been trying to tie every loose end in her way before it’s too late but, due to her condition, Ben and her grandfather Billy have taken it upon themselves to handle mostly everything.
They’ve given her husband Jay Brown time off from work which only leave Ben crumbling under the pressured.
Coming up on BBC One next week, Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) excitedly plans her Eurovision-themed birthday bash but she can’t help but notice her son Ben is strung out and exhausted.
Callum Highway (Tony Clay) begs Ben to slow down with work but he’s hellbent on doing everything for both a dying Lola and Jay.
He’s soon hit with a bombshell – Lola has come to the realisation she can no longer work, despite her best intentions.
This leaves Ben knowing it’ll be even more financially tough for them and he agrees to do more overtime to cover all of their costs.
In later scenes, Ben works flat out to finish before Kathy’s Eurovision birthday party while Jay (Jamie Borthwick) explains to him he’ll need to take his daughter Lexi as Lola is too tired to go.
Alone and completely drained, Ben breaks down with exhaustion and when he turns up to the party, he’s horrified to realised he’s forgotten to get Lexi.
Jay and Lola are clearly annoyed and, struggling even further, Ben finds solace by knocking back the booze… but he soon picks a fight with Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota).
Fists are about to fly until Lola screams at Ben to stop.
Ben realises he’s gone too far as his loved ones look at him in horror – but is it too late for him to avoid potential payback from the Panesar clan, with whom he’s already had a chequered past?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
Could the Panesars get revenge for Vinny?
How will Ben get the help he needs?
