EastEnders: former Ben Mitchell actor WOWS fans with topless snap

eastenders harry reid

by Eden-Olivia Lord |
Updated on

Harry Reid played Ben Mitchell on EastEnders

We've seen plenty (six to be exact) actors play Ben Mitchell on EastEnders but Harry Reid has sent his Instagram followers into a frenzy after sharing a topless photo.

The 26-year-old actor posted the snap of himself in the toilet and wrote alongside the picture: "CRINGE ALERT. I never do this, but progress is progress. Just don't take me seriously.

"#Gym #Progress #ItsAllLighting"

Check out: We bet you can't remember all the actors who have played Ben Mitchell?...

Gallery

The changing faces of Ben Mitchell - slider

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CREDIT: BBC

Ben Mitchell actors

Ben was born to Phil and Kathy Mitchell in 1996, and was played by ADORABLE bubba Matthew Silver.

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CREDIT: BBC

Ben Mitchell actors

As a toddler, the role was taken over by a little boy called Morgan Whittle, who played Ben's terrible twos (to fours) until 2001.

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CREDIT: BBC

Ben Mitchell actors

As a schoolboy, Ben was played by a young actor named Charlie Jones. He quit the soap in 2010 after four years, and turns 23 (!?) later this year.

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CREDIT: BBC

Ben Mitchell actors

Little Charlie is not so little any more, and looks like he'd be a mega hit with the girls. He's a rare presence on social media, though, and it looks as though he's dropped out of the limelight, too.

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CREDIT: BBC

Ben Mitchell actors

Joshua Pascoe played Phil Mitchell's son for a brief time between 2010 and 2012, and certainly nailed the 'moody teenager' thing. Joshua was axed by the soap after an alleged sexual assault, but is still acting in indie productions and on stage.

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CREDIT: BBC

Ben Mitchell actors

Sadly, the last time Joshua was in the news he was exhibiting some extremely unpleasant – drunkenly complaining to passers by on the street in London that he'd lost his wallet, and accusing "some p**i" of stealing it. Grim.

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CREDIT: BBC

Ben Mitchell actors

In 2014, after a brief hiatus, the role was reprised by Harry Reid when dad Phil got back in touch with him. As an adult, Ben becomes a dad to Lexi Pearce, explores his sexuality with various male characters, and eventually left the Square in summer 2018 following an explosive robbery storyline.

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CREDIT: BBC

Ben Mitchell actors

Now 26, Harry moved into theatre and ditched the glasses for his role as Leonard Vole in a very high brow production of Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution at The Old County Hall. Just don't forget your roots, Harry!

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CREDIT: BBC

Ben Mitchell actors

Returning for the sixth time, with Lexi and her mum Lola in tow, Ben is now played by Max Bowden. "A character like Ben, with his rich history, 'complicated' family and complex psychology, is pure gold," said xxecutive producer Kate Oates."With Max in the role, we will be exploring the aspects of Ben's character that have been allowed to develop during his time away from the Square: unfettered by old loyalties, and out of the long shadow of his father, Phil."

Lots of his followers rushed to gush about his transformation, with one person writing: "Bloody hell good going you man! X"

Another commented: "Looking even more gorgeous 😋🔥"

Someone else said: : "Not cringey, u look hot 🤤"

A fourth wrote: "Wow, you've got yourself in fantastic shape."

One more added: "Baby you need to warn me before you post these things i need to emotionally prepare myself."

Earlier this year it came to light that Harry, who played Ben from 2014 until 2018, had been replaced by another actor to reprise the role of Phil Mitchell's son.

eastenders harry reid
©BBC

Following the news, Harry tweeted the new actor - Max Bowden - to congratulate him for his new role. He wrote: "@MaxBowden Mate, just wanted to wish you the best of the luck. Re-casting can be hard on us, but they will grow to love you!

"Enjoy Ben as much as I did! Welcome to the Clan...I anoint you Ben the 6th. H x."

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Harry also spoke out and admitted that he would have returned to the Square in the future, he told Metro: "I always said I would have gone back.

"I’m disappointed because I love playing the character – it was a real pleasure as an actor to play a character like that.

"It’s a shame I won’t get to continue his journey but it’s the name of the game, it is what it is. I’m in exactly the same position as I was in when I originally left. I’m an actor, I come into this game to play different parts – not to play one for my whole life."

He added: "It just means that the door is properly closed – but there are other doors."

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