Ben Mitchell (EastEnders)
Benjamin "Ben" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The role has been played by five different actors. Matthew Silver appeared as an infant Ben from 1996–98, and Morgan Whittle played him as a toddler from 1999–2000. After a six-year absence from the series, Charlie Jones assumed the role of Ben in 2006. In May 2010, it was announced that the role was recast to Joshua Pascoe, who made his first appearance as Ben on 13 December 2010. Pascoe then took a break from EastEnders between 13 May 2011 and 9 September 2011. In May 2012, it was announced that Pascoe would be leaving the role, and made his final appearance on 24 August 2012. On 14 May 2014, it was announced that Ben would be returning to the serial, with the part being recast to Harry Reid, who appeared from 22 September 2014.
Ben's storylines include a feud between the show's Mitchell and Beale families for his custody; developing a love of dance and the arts, which is a source of tension between him and his father, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden); being physically and mentally abused by his father's girlfriend Stella Crawford (Sophie Thompson); and struggling to come to terms with his homosexuality. Ben unintentionally kills Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison), and attempts to hide his sexuality, having a daughter, Lexi Pearce, with Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold), and a relationship with Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald), while having secret relationships with Johnny Carter (Sam Strike) and Paul Coker (Jonny Labey).