Ben Mitchell struggles to cope with hiding his secret in EastEnders

UNBEKNOWNST to anybody, Ben Mitchell has been struggling with an eating disorder.

The EastEnders troublemaker struggles to keep it all under wraps from those closest to him after a major change to his routine.

BBC One viewers were left in tears in early June when Lola’s final scenes were aired.

The hairstylist played by Danielle Harold drew her last breath surrounded by her young daughter Lexi (portrayed by Isabella Brown) and her husband Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick).

Many Walford residents were considerably shaken by the loss and will join Lola’s loved ones for her funeral next week.

But after an emotional day, Jay struggles with his immense grief while Lexi is worried about him.

The young girl is too preoccupied to allow her grandfather Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) and her father Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) to cheer her up and she dismisses them.

Callum Highway (Tony Clay) then suggests that Jay should move into their flat with Lexi but Ben quickly dismisses the idea.

Another major event eventually pushes Ben and Jay to have a heart-to-hear and the latter finally agrees to move in.

Unfortunately, Ben is facing struggles of his own and when the family sit down for dinner, he’s uncomfortable.

Ben panics about how he’ll keep his eating disorder a secret from his loved ones now that he has a full house.

The new storyline for Ben was confirmed in April, 2023, just as Lola Pearce was getting ready to draw her last breath.

Last year, Ben was already struggling with his addictions after he was raped by former Prince Albert manager Lewis Butler.

This caused many issues for Ben, even in his own marriage to Callum Highway as the copper believed he had cheated.

But could Callum give Ben the support he clearly needs this rime round?

How will Ben cope?

Will he be encouraged to speak up?

EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.