It’s been a year since we last saw iconic EastEnders character Ben Mitchell on our screens after actor Max Bowden bowed out of the role in March 2024.
A whopping six actors have played Ben since his on-screen birth in 1996 – with former Waterloo Road star Max being cast in 2019, a year after previous actor Harry Reid left the soap.
Seven years on from his last appearance as Ben, Harry is looking very different these days. In fact, he’s almost unrecognisable from his time on Albert Square.
A quick look at Harry’s Instagram shows that he’s looking mighty fine after ditching Ben’s specs and growing a bit of stubble.
Harry’s fans can’t get over his transformation and have taken to the comments section of some of his posts to share their thoughts.
One recently wrote, ‘Look at you all growed up!’
Another added, ‘So very handsome,’ while a third wrote, ‘Best Ben Mitchell of all time.’
Last year, Harry announced he’d started a new career as a scaffolder six years after leaving EastEnders.
However, fans also began speculating that he could potentially reprise his role as Ben after Max Bowden left the show.
When the role was recast back in 2019, Harry admitted he would have loved to play Ben again.
Check out: We bet you can't remember all the actors who have played Ben Mitchell?...
The changing faces of Ben Mitchell - slider
1 of 9Matthew Silver (1996 - 1998)
Ben was born to Phil and Kathy Mitchell in 1996, and was played by ADORABLE bubba Matthew Silver.
2 of 9Morgan Whittle (1999–2001)
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.
3 of 9Charlie Jones (2006–2010)
As a schoolboy, Ben was played by a young actor named Charlie Jones. He quit the soap in 2010 after four years, and turns 29 (!?) later this year.
4 of 9Charlie Jones now
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.
5 of 9Joshua Pascoe (2010–2012)
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.
6 of 9Joshua Pascoe now
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.
7 of 9Harry Reid (2014 - 2018)
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.
8 of 9Harry Reid now
Now 32, 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!
9 of 9Max Bowden (2019–2024)
Returning for the sixth time, with Lexi and her mum Lola in tow, Ben was played by Max Bowden between 2019 and 2024. Producers decided not to renew the actor's contract, but he admitted playing the troubled character was 'emotionally exhausting' and 'it was time for a rest'.
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."