Ben Mitchell (EastEnders)

Ben Mitchell
Harry Reid as Ben Mitchell
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Matthew Silver (1996–1998) Morgan Whittle (1999–2000) Charlie Jones (2006–2010) Joshua Pascoe (2010–2012) Harry Reid (2014–)
Duration	1996–2000, 2006–2012, 2014–
First appearance	Episode 1266 21 March 1996
Introduced by	Jane Harris (1996) Matthew Robinson (1999) Kate Harwood (2006) Dominic Treadwell-Collins (2014)
Classification	Present; regular
Profile
Occupation	Student Mechanic
Ben as portrayed by Charlie Jones (left) and Joshua Pascoe (right), with a "harder edge" in the latter depiction.
Family Mitchell Father Phil Mitchell Mother Kathy Beale Stepfather Gavin Sullivan (2001–) Stepmother Sharon Watts (2014–) Half-brothers Ian Beale Raymond Half-sisters Louise Mitchell Donna Ludlow Daughters Lexi Pearce Grandmothers Peggy Mitchell Uncles Grant Mitchell Aunts Sam Mitchell Nephews Peter Beale Bobby Beale Nieces Lucy Beale First cousins Tony Hills Sarah Hills Mark Fowler Courtney Mitchell Other relatives Lola Pearce Ronnie Mitchell Roxy Mitchell Billy Mitchell Aunt Sal

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 1996–1998, 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); struggling to come to terms with his homosexuality and then attempting to hide it; unintentionally killing Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison); having a daughter, Lexi Pearce, with Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold); a relationship with Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald), while having a secret relationship with Paul Coker (Jonny Labey), who he had a relationship with when he came out; and being involved in a homophobic attack which caused Paul's death.