No idea where they are going with this, but I think it may have something to do with Johnny making him comfortable with his sexuality.

When is our lovely ginger boy on next?

I think you're right about that, sirbenson23. I vaguely remember a spoiler a while back saying that actually

He's back 6th november

Thursdays episode, as is Ben and Abi. Maybe some awkward scenes from the aftermath of yesterdays episode with confused Ben.

Johnny stay away from Ben, seriously! You can do way better

I don't like Ben being angry towards Johnny. Makes me sad. If Ben wants to be with Johnny and for me to like the storyline he's gonna have to go a better way about it. Tbh I expected the boyfriend to be complicated and possibly confusing in his behaviour towards Johnny, whoever Johnny ended up with - its just knowing what Ben is capable of.

Also I think Sam Strike is strawberry blonde. A few photos around the web of him when he was young with blonde hair and he doesn't seem to have freckles. I do think he dyed his hair more ginger when he first joined the show (at least in his cast profile pictures anyway), his hair was a stronger red than it is now. Think Sam dyes it but not obviously.

Plus there are occasions where his hair looks dark blonde-ish. Maybe its the lighting on his hair.

It is early days for the Ben/Johnny storyline but at the moment Ben's behaviour is confusing Johnny and us viewers!

I am assuming this is just part of Ben coming to terms with being gay and that we will see over the next few scenes this becoming clearer. We know that he tries to kiss Johnny and it looks like Johnny is interested in Ben so even though he rejects him on this occasion It would seems likely that this romance will develop.

I suspect this will become a bigger storyline in early 2015 when the big Carter reveals are over and maybe the show will focus on the Carter kids while the "oldies" take a much needed break. I do want to see Shirley's reaction and the rest of the Carter family are very protective of Johnny and will be horrified at the thought of him with "killer" Ben. It will be interesting to see what Phil's reaction will be to this potential romance. Can't see that he can have objections to Johnny can he?. I bet Sharon will be so happy and planning their wedding

I do feel for Johnny as Christmas/New Year are going to be terrible for him coping with the fact that his mum has been raped by Dean, his auntie Shirley is in fact his grandma and Stan leaving (see spoiler on the main board if you want to know how). Poor lad is going to need to a lot support to get through these shocks and I do wonder if he turns to Ben for support and that's when the romance really starts.

That does all make a lot of sense....Looks like we may be waiting a while then

Gah! Will the two kiss already

I don't know why Ben's denying himself of someone like Johnny. If he won't make a move, don't mind me

Don't worry Firegazer, I'm sure a lot of us on this thread would happily make a move

Also sad news guys. No Johnny next week.

Also good to hear on his Twitter about his haircut - it looks way better shorter than the slick back look.

Ugh, I think we're going to have a real Johnny drought until Christmas now.

Well at some point Ben's gonna try and kiss Johnny (eventually) so thats gotta happen surely week after next? I mean how long is the Autumn trailer stretching out for?

Let's just hope the scene isn't/hasn't been cut. Maybe it happens on Thursday's episode? Though I can't see anything in the episode spoilers that suggests it would do. It looks like it happens outside The Albert, and on Thursday I expect Johnny will be involved in the fireworks party at The Vic.

The thing is, we've already seen the attempted kiss, so that's spoiled the suprise! Hopefully there will be more than one. And a late night version.

It probably hasn't been cut. But then its questionable on the scale of the storyline of how big the storyline will be atm. There could still be Johnny/Ben scenes on Thursday as they both are in the episode.

I guess Sam Strike might be involved in the Children In Need musical thing for EastEnders next Friday so maybe not a complete Johnny drought there.

I don't think I could watch a 'late night version' of Johnny and Ben - knowing what Ben is capable of Al. I'd be too worried for Johnny. But I get what you mean. If Johnny was with a nice cute guy then I'd definitely approve of the idea!

I have to say that now we've seen the way Ben spoke to Johnny on Friday, essentially having a dig at his sexuality, it's now a bit clearer why Johnny pushes him away during the kiss scene; if Ben just attempts to do that out of the blue you can see why Johnny would be angry and not want to reciprocate.

I forgot about Children In Need, Neu! Hopefully Sam will be on it.

And I wouldn't mind a late night special but I don't think EE have ever done one so I doubt they'd start now.

Yeah that may have put Johnny off a bit if Johnny was interested (which he seemed a little). Kinda need a scene or two between them on Thursday to be sure of that though.

Yeah hopefully! I know Sam has a music side in RL but he's kept it incredibly quiet.

It worked tremendously for Hollyoaks - well until they axed the Later episodes. Big mistake from them. Tbh the Nick return or a Nick storyline would also have benefitted from a EE Later episode - and the Lauren storyline.

I think Johnny was slightly interested. Not a full on "I've got a crush" interested, but just a slight "hmm, is there something between us?" type feeling. Now that Ben's had a go at him, I think he may have completely written it off and felt like maybe he was being stupid by believing Ben was gay. Like you said, it would help to have a scene between them on Thursday to see how they are around each other. I can see Ben acting as though nothing has happened and continuing to give Johnny mixed messages, and Johnny just blanking him.

Ooh, Johnny is actually mentioned in the brief spoilers for the week after next:

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2022363



Sounds like it could potentially be a good week for Johnny.

It could as well have been. The conversation between Lauren and Abi which was supposed to happen on Friday (replaced with the Weeping Angel stuff) was cut, but it was on the trailer.

On the spoilers noticed that Lee has his birthday so we have had this year

Linda (July)
Tina ( May/June)
Nancy (Oct)
Lee (Nov)

I doubt Johnny will have a birthday in December so it looks like he birthday will
pass without a screen mention. I guess Johnny and Mick will have their time next year

Let's hope they are keeping a birthday episode for Johnny until next year to tie in with the Ben storyline. Always a good backdrop for to create some drama in the Vic.

Has it been said how old Johnny is? I have seen 19 mentioned but wondered if we actually know his age?

Looking on Twitter, Sam seems to have given up Eastenders! He's just on a permanent holiday.

It looks to me like he has been a short holiday and is now back home I would imagine Sam is going to be very busy with the filming of the Eastenders Christmas and Year episodes shortly so understandable he has been a given a break

Thanks Strawberry for updating the blog again! Particularly love the pics of Johnny in his vampire costume. He is probably the most cutest vampire ever.

http://www.soapsquawk.co.uk/news/eas...pM7MZ8.twitter

Sounds pretty good storyline if you ask me. Be good to see Lee do something for a change!

Yep, Lee is in dire need of some sort of storyline tbh, good to see him standing up for his brother.