Ben Mitchell (EastEnders)
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- For other uses, see Ben Mitchell.
| EastEnders character | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Ben Mitchell | |
| Portrayed by | Charlie Jones |
| Duration | 1996–1998, 1999–2000, 2006— |
| First appearance | 21 March 1996 |
| Date of birth | 21 March 1996 |
| Marital status | Single |
| Home | The Queen Vic |
| Occupation | Student |
| Family | Phil, Kathy, Louise, Ian |
Ben Mitchell is a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. He was originally played by Matthew Silver, then Morgan Whittle. Since 6 March 2006 he has been played by Charlie Jones.
History
Ben is the son of Phil and Kathy Mitchell. He was born in 1996 and had meningitis as a baby, leaving him partially deaf in one ear. He left Albert Square with his mother to live in South Africa in 1998 and made a brief return in 1999 to attend the wedding of his half brother Ian Beale to Melanie Healy.
Ben's world was turned upside down when Kathy was killed in a car crash in March 2006. A short time later, her husband Gavin died so Ben came to live with Ian, Ian's partner Jane, and children Peter, Lucy and Bobby.
His grandmother, Peggy, demanded to see him but Jane convinced her to back off because Ben didn't need any more upset. She also told Peggy not to tell Phil that Ben was back. She agreed to this, but only for a while. At Ben's birthday party, Phil burst in, but Ben was scared when Phil nearly pushed Ian's face into the lit candles on his birthday cake. Ian was upset when Ben requested more time with Phil and the pair bonded. Ben decided that he could not cope with the arguments at home and ran away. Ian and Phil were relieved when Dr. Oliver Cousins found Ben and brought him home.
Little Mo Mitchell believed that Ben was the reason for her son Freddie's head injury, as Ben had been playing with Freddie on the day that he was injured. She confronted him about it and shook him when he did not answer her.
In May 2006, after spending several nights at The Queen Vic, Ben decided he wanted to live there with his father, rather than his half brother, who he still wanted to visit. Ian and Phil took the children bowling and Phil was thrilled when Ben finally called him dad for the first time. Ben didn't get on very well with his cousin Courtney. She teased him many times and broke a toy plane that Gavin had given him. Ben told Courtney that he had once overheard his mum tell Gavin that everyone knew Courtney's father, Grant had killed her mother, Tiffany on New Year's Eve 1998. Courtney asked Grant what had really happened and he said that it was an accident. However, Courtney didn't believe him and Grant secretly left Walford without Courtney. She told Ben that if he didn't behave his dad would leave just like hers did. Grant returned a week later, and Ben then decided to tell Phil the truth about what had happened to Freddie; they had been playing horsey and he had fallen off.
Ben saw Rebecca Miller practising for the sports day at school. He was jealous and thought that she was better than him. Phil decided to teach Ben how to do the sack race, which helped father and son bond.
He made a friend in Abi Branning. When Abi's sister Lauren was making fun of them playing together, Abi and Ben soaked her with water bombs.
Phil suggested to Ben that they should find his half sister Louise, but Ben wasn't very enthusiastic about the idea of finding his little sister.
Phil also bought the video shop for Ben. Ben was very pleased and told all his friends, and Phil invited them for a party, but when Phil's lawyer Stella Crawford arrived and told Phil that it wasn't his yet as the paperwork hadn't come through, Ben was teased by his friends. Phil started dating Stella, but Ben isn't very impresssed by her. He called her a fat, stupid cow and spilt water over her CV.
In November, Ben and Abi worked on a science project together. Abi convinced Ben to pour wet mud all over Ben's grandmother Peggy's kitchen table and then add ants to make an ant farm. They told Ben's dad Phil that they would tidy up when they were finished although they made a mess and left Phil to tidy up when they went to Abi's house to write the results of their project.
Abi scared Ben by predicting that Stella and Phil would get married and send him to boarding school. Ben then overheard Phil and Peggy talking about Stella. Phil thought that it would be a good idea if Stella moved in for a while as she had to sell her house. Ben wasn't happy about it. When Ben saw Phil and Stella returning from Christmas tree shopping. He ripped out his hearing aid in disgust and crushed it. Phil decided that Stella shouldn't move in, for Ben's sake.
Ben was kidnapped by Martin after he thought that Phil knew of his wife Sonia's whereabouts after she took his daughter Rebecca away. Martin took Ben to the top of the railway bridge and threated to drop Ben unless Phil told him were Rebecca was. He was eventully handed over.
Ben finally got rid of Stella after he turned up the Vic oven, burning Stella's chicken while she went to the shop. He blamed Stella for being negligent, however Phil found out what he had done when Ben and Abi tried to burn some papers that Stella left behind. Phil decided not to win Stella's heart back for the sake of his son, but they got back together eventually.
Phil left Ben with Ian while he went to work. Ian was's furious with Phil for offloading Ben on the day before the anniversary of Kathy's death. Ben said that wasn't Phil to blame, it was Stella.
Phil planned a weekend away with Ben, but changed his mind when Stella sat on some glue that Ben accidentally spilt on a chair. Ben swore that it was an accident, but Phil sent him away in disgust.
On the anniversary of Kathy's death, Phil called a truce with Ian for Ben's sake. They made pancakes and released a balloon in Kathy's honour. Later, Stella made peace with Phil and Ben. Phil wanted Ben to apologise to Stella. Ben was moody and didn't seem convinced by Stella's offer of a truce. Phil was pleased when Stella offered to take Ben for a day out. He was worried that Ben might drive her away.
Phil was impressed as Stella made an effort for her day out with Ben. Later, he told Ben to behave himself or else. Ben decided he wanted to go to the London Dungeon. Stella attempted to make friends with Ben and promised that she was not trying to replace Kathy. Ben got lost in the hall of mirrors, and Stella hid and watched Ben's panic and confusion and call for her. Eventually, she ran forward and told him off for losing her. At home, she promised not to tell Phil that Ben ran off. Phil was thrilled to hear they've had a brilliant time.
Abi later told Phil and Peggy that Stella had lost Ben, but Stella managed to sweep the matter aside. She has since started to psychologically torment Ben, doing such things as deliberately breaking him and Abi up.
Family
- Father: Phil Mitchell
- Mother: Kathy Hills (deceased)
- Half brother: Ian Beale
- Half sisters: Donna Ludlow (deceased), Louise Mitchell
- Grandfathers: Eric Mitchell (deceased), Dennis Hills
- Grandmothers: Peggy Mitchell, Brenda Hills
- Uncles: Grant Mitchell, Ted Hills
- Aunt: Sam Mitchell
- Great uncle Clive Mitchell
- Great aunt: Sal Martin
- Nephews: Peter Beale, Bobby Beale
- Niece: Lucy Beale
- Cousins: Courtney Mitchell, Mark Fowler Jr., Tony Hills, Sarah Hills
- Second cousins once removed: Billy Mitchell, Charlie Mitchell (deceased)
- Third cousins: Jamie Mitchell (deceased), Janet Mitchell
