Walford is about to be shaken to its core once again, as one of the Square’s most iconic — and most complicated — residents makes an explosive reappearance. Ben Mitchell is coming home, but not for long. And while fans are overjoyed to see him back on their screens, his return is laced with tension, heartbreak, and questions that could change lives forever.

In a twist that nobody saw coming, BBC’s EastEnders has confirmed that Ben — played by Max Bowden — will be back in Albert Square this autumn for a short but emotionally charged set of episodes. His reappearance won’t be a quiet one, either. Not only is his return tied to a funeral, but it also promises to stir up family conflicts, unearth buried secrets, and force characters into confrontations they’ve been avoiding for far too long.

The Reason for His Return: A Funeral Like No Other

The solemn occasion bringing these characters together is the funeral of Jonno Highway — the estranged and notoriously homophobic father of Callum (Tony Clay) and Stuart (Ricky Champ). Longtime fans will remember Jonno’s brief but explosive 2019 stint in Walford, where his toxic personality and abusive history left a trail of emotional devastation.

Jonno’s death now forces the fractured Highway family back into the same space for the first time in years. And while funerals in Walford often come with tears and hugs, this one is shaping up to be more of a powder keg than a healing moment. For Callum, the grief is tangled with dread — dread of facing his painful family history, and dread of facing someone else…

Balum Tension Reignites

Yes, the elephant in the room is the strained marriage between Callum and Ben. Their relationship, once one of the Square’s most beloved romances (dubbed Balum by devoted fans), has been left in tatters after Callum’s affair with Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff). With Johnny just back from a sunny holiday with his mum Linda, and Ben stepping back into Walford for the first time in months, the air is thick with unspoken words and unresolved betrayals.

This isn’t just about a husband confronting his unfaithful partner. This is about years of love, sacrifice, loyalty — and the shattering reality that maybe those things aren’t enough to survive the kind of wounds these two have inflicted on each other.

Fan Reactions: Excitement Meets Skepticism

The announcement of Ben’s return lit up social media. “About time Ben was back! Terrible decision to remove him,” one fan posted, celebrating the news with a screenshot of the suited-up cast filming funeral scenes. Another shared a group shot of Ben, Callum, Johnny, and Stuart, calling it “such a great picture” and adding, “So excited for them to return!”

But as always, with joy came questions. And the biggest one? How is Ben even here? Last we saw him, he was serving time in an American prison. The idea of him being flown halfway around the world just for his father-in-law’s funeral left many scratching their heads.

“Sure, fly him halfway across the world for his father-in-law’s funeral. Sounds about right,” one viewer laughed sarcastically on X (formerly Twitter), while another simply replied with a face-palm emoji.

Others, however, tried to piece together a more logical explanation. Could Ben have already been transferred to a UK prison, quietly setting the stage for his return? It wouldn’t be the first time a soap character’s sentence was adjusted for plot convenience — just ask Lucas Johnson or Rocky Cotton.

The Jonno Factor: Who Was He Again?

For casual viewers, another question dominated: Who’s Jonno?

To jog memories — Jonno Highway, played by Richard Graham, appeared briefly in 2019. Contacted by Whitney Dean (then engaged to Callum), Jonno arrived in Walford claiming to have changed. But his facade quickly crumbled. He clashed with Ben over Pride, spewing vile homophobic slurs, physically assaulted Callum, and revealed a past of abusive behavior towards both his sons.

His disgust deepened when Callum came out, blaming Ben for “turning” his son gay. The tense encounter ended in true Mitchell style, with Phil delivering a trademark punch before Jonno stormed out of the Square, disowning Callum entirely.

Now, six years later, his death will drag old wounds back into the light — and in true soap fashion, funerals in Walford rarely stay focused on the deceased.

Drama Brewing Beneath the Surface

The funeral setting is almost certain to ignite multiple confrontations. There’s the simmering tension between Ben and Callum. There’s Johnny, who will have to stand awkwardly near the man whose marriage he’s helped break. And then there’s Phil Mitchell, who still holds certain dangerous secrets close to his chest.

The Mitchell family name carries weight in Walford, and whenever Ben returns, that legacy follows. Even a short visit has the potential to kickstart long-term chaos — and if the writers are smart, this could be the start of a much bigger storyline.

What Could Happen Next?

While EastEnders has kept tight-lipped about plot specifics, one thing is clear: this won’t be a simple “attend the funeral and leave” trip for Ben. His presence will inevitably lead to tense conversations, old grudges being reopened, and possibly even dangerous confrontations.

Could the funeral be the moment that Callum’s affair is finally exposed? Could Ben use the opportunity to confront Johnny head-on? And what about Phil — could this reunion stir up old Mitchell feuds that have been lying dormant?

There’s also the matter of whether Ben’s return is really temporary. Soap fans know that “short visits” often evolve into longer stays, especially if the reaction is strong — and judging by the online buzz, the appetite for more Ben Mitchell is very real.

The Power of a Mitchell Homecoming

Ben’s returns are never low-key. He’s been a central figure in some of Walford’s most intense storylines — from explosive family fallouts to heartbreaking romantic dramas. His complicated moral compass, fierce loyalty to those he loves, and tendency to get in over his head make him one of the Square’s most unpredictable characters.

This time, though, his visit comes with an added layer of fragility. He’s not just coming home from a trip; he’s coming back from prison, from a completely different life, into a community that has changed in his absence. People he trusted have betrayed him. People he hated might now be allies. The Walford he steps into will not be the same as the one he left — and neither is he.

Final Thoughts

The return of Ben Mitchell is more than just fan service — it’s a carefully timed shake-up for EastEnders that could set off months of drama. A funeral may bring people together, but in Walford, it also tears them apart.

Between the unresolved Balum tension, the shadow of Jonno’s abusive past, and the unresolved logistics of Ben’s release, there’s enough here to keep viewers hooked well beyond his last episode in this arc.

One thing’s certain: in soapland, even a day release from prison can change everything. And for Ben Mitchell, this brief return to Walford might just be the first step towards a far bigger comeback.