Seven huge EastEnders spoilers as Ben Mitchell strikes back against his rapist Lewis Butler

ALL hell is breaking loose this week as Ben Mitchell’s violent streak makes a return.

This time, the EastEnders troublemaker targets his rapist Lewis Butler – unaware of how his actions will impact everyone else around him.



Ben Mitchell’s violent streak comes back

The character is still struggling to come to terms with his rape

He decides to take action against Lewis Butler

1. Ben plots revenge

Much like any other victim of sexual assault, Ben Mitchell (portrayed by Max Bowden) is severely struggling to come to terms with the fact that he was raped.

But in order to grieve and heal, he decides to turn to something he excels at – vengeful violence.

Ben’s violent behaviour makes a comeback this week in the BBC One soap.

However, after targeting homophobes, he decides to take on a new challenge and Lewis Butler (played by Cork actor Aidan O’Callaghan) is his one and only target.

Coming up this week, Kathy fusses over Ben as he begins to have doubts about reporting Lewis to the police.

Matters are only made worse when he spots Lewis with his husband Callum Highway (Tony Clay) as the pair seem to share a close conversation.

Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) senses Ben’s mood and the latter is fed up of being blamed for what happened with Lewis, thus proceeding to tell Jay all about his rape.

But as they talk about the attack, Jay inadvertently puts doubts in Ben’s mind about going to the police.

When Kathy takes him to the station, Ben changes his mind, worried nobody will believe him.

He then comes up with an idea which could lead to an ill-fated confrontation as he sends a message to Lewis asking to meet him.

Later on, Ben waits for Lewis at The Arches… letting his violent streak make another comeback as he holds a crowbar.

But when Lewis is a no show, he storms over to The Albert and demands that Kathy tells him where Lewis lives.

Ben sees red and his anger consumes him as he believes Kathy is protecting Lewis.

He struggles to keep his rage in check but Jay is a witness to the commotion.

Will Jay and Kathy be able to calm Ben down?



Kathy protects Ben in the best way she can

2. Kathy takes a stand

While Ben believes his own family could turn their backs on him, his mother Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) is actually making big decisions to protect him.

A rape survivor herself, Kathy has tried to push her son to report Lewis for raping him.

But before he can decide to arm himself with a crowbar, remaining indecisive about whether he should turn to the police or not, she takes matters into her own hands.

Lewis is sacked from his manager and bartender job at The Prince Albert as Kathy takes a stand in Ben’s defence.

Little does she know Lewis also has a vengeful streak.



Lewis corners Peter Beale and drops a bombshell

3. Lewis retaliates

Ready to make Ben’s life a nightmare, Lewis decides to use one of his secrets against him.

Viewers may remember that Lewis is very much aware that Ben would find homophobes to attack in Walford – unbeknownst to Peter Beale (Dayle Hudson) who became one of his victims by mistake.

Fuming after being fired, Lewis turns to Kathy’s grandson Peter and tells him that his uncle Ben was the one who attacked him.

Soon enough, a family feud is looming on the horizon for the Beales.



Will Peter go after Ben?

4. Peter learns the truth

Peter was considerably shaken following his assault, believing his attacker to be on to him.

But finding out that his uncle was actually responsible for the trauma is the last straw.

Aware that he no longer has to look over his shoulder, Peter turns his attention to Kathy, who knew Ben had attacked him all along.

A drunk and enraged Peter tells her he knows it was Ben who assaulted him.

He issues his grandmother with a demand – Kathy has to prove her loyalty to Peter by reporting her son to the police.

But what will Kathy do?



Dana and Bobby haven’t been on the best of terms

5. Dana moves on

Thankfully for Peter, he will be able to find comfort in a budding connection with Dana Monroe (Barbara Smith).

But how will his brother Bobby (Clay Milner Russell) react?

This week, things remain awkward between Bobby and Dana at Walford East.

Feeling pushed out of his own family, Peter becomes a shoulder for Dana to lean on after an incident with a customer.

Peter and Dana later share a heart-to-heart before she covers for him when Kathy tries to find him.

Later on, Dana finds a touching gift and believes it to be from Peter.

This prompts her to go find him herself and, misreading the situation, lean in for a kiss.

However, how will she react when she finds out the gift is actually from Bobby?

How will Peter respond to her advances?



Sam wants to prove she’s worthy of the Mitchell name

6. Phil drops a bombshell on Sam

Speaking of family disagreements, Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) also has to face some conflict within her own clan.

This is despite her brother Phil (Steve McFadden) trusting her with business ventures.

Sam is set for a nasty shock which also involves Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).

Phil first gets a visit from his partner Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) who has a suggestion for nightclub Peggy’s, which Sam bought and renamed after their late mother.

Things are off for a bad start for Sam as she takes over the club.

In a shocking twist, she first fires Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota) and riles his girlfriend Dotty Cotton (Milly Zero).

Dotty soon tries to get her own back but is pushed out of the door as well.

Later on, Sam pays Phil a visit to fill him in but he can instantly tell that she has an ulterior motive.

The Albert Square tough guy then drops a bombshell on his sister, making it clear he will trust his former wife Sharon Watts (with whom she’s had an ongoing feud) more than her.



Kheerat’s family is desperate to see him get married

7. Kheerat is forced into an arranged marriage

Elsewhere, long-standing bachelor Kheerat Panesar (Jaz Delo) gets a shock of his own as his uncle Ranveer (Anil Goutam) comes to the Square.

In recent years, Kheerat has struggled to form a romantic connection following the murder of Chantelle Atkins, although he is slowly getting closer to Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).

Stacey is encouraged by Eve Unwin (Heather Peace) to ask Kheerat out on a date which he accepts.

Unfortunately, their conversation is unfortunately cut short when he gets a work call.

Kheerat then bumps into Ranveer who has decided to pay him a visit to discuss an important matter – but he certainly doesn’t mean business.

Ranveer insists on finding him a wife.

Tensions arise among the Panesars as Kheerat is unimpressed to see his mother Suki (Balvinder Sopal) agree to the idea.

Kheerat avoids the conversation and heads off to see Stacey.

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EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday on BBC One.