EastEnders bosses are planning to reintroduce the character of Ben Mitchell, Digital Spy can exclusively confirm.

Show chiefs are currently in the process of looking to recast the role ahead of an on-screen return later this year.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2...confirmed.html

It was only a matter of time.

Just make sure he has good chemistry with Sam Strike .

YESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope he returns twisted but friendly like the last one!

Ah yes. Johnny will soon be finding a Mitchell Boyfriend

Shocker.

I hope whoever they pick this time becomes the definitive Ben Mitchell, am fed up with all the changes.

Surely Louise won't be far behind him now.....

There's FOUR killers amongst them.

Bring back Cornell John to play him

Didn't think it would be confirmed THIS soon but I actually look forward to his return.

It says Ben is going in a different direction so I'd take from that he's probably getting psychiatric help and won't be a shit stirring little psycho like the last 2 incarnations. I think pretty much everyone guessed Ben would be back before long. I'm sure we're also bang on the money with the Johnny prediction.

I really think the BBC need to do the audition process differently. Am I the only one who kinda likes the idea of inexperienced actor taking the role? They'd have to be a good actor of course, but I hate how experience tends to over rule a lot of things. I think bringing in an entirely new first time actor would help establish the role of Ben much better. I also think they should do a bit of an unrealistic recast. I hate when the appearance of a character completely changes under a recast... But for Ben to work, I think he needs a bit of a different look to him.

The potential for him is absolutely huge. In his last stint alone he came out, murdered and became a father. Ben Mitchell as a father... STRANGE.

Hardly a surprise - after Ritchie Scotts "bombshell" last night - it was surely only a matter of time before this was revealed (following much speculation) and last night was paving the way for it.

Do agree that it would be great to see Louise back, also however.

Good news about the recast, too.

Just as long as neither of the previous horrendous actors come back I'm really happy about this. Ben has the potential to be one of the best villains ever

Did Ritchie say how long he has been out? I swear, if Ben is revealed as Lucy's killer I'll lose my shit!

Quite happy about this, hope the new actor is good though.

A month.

Over a month.

Another recast? Woah, I hope they get it right this time and that the square doesn't spend the next year throwing daggers about 'Hev', that got tiresome. Having said that, a big show down with Ben would be pretty good viewing.

I'd like to see Louise back, too.

I just see Ben as hugely wasted potential. There was a chance for a subtle father/son story but they ruined it by taking him down the murderous progeny route way too soon and with 2rubbish actors.

I'm so excited! and i'm not even gay!

I wondered why they were pushing Jay and Lola together, makes sense now. They will probably get a flat together and Jay will help her raise the baby and then Ben returns and we'll have a feud between Jay and Ben.

Only this time new Ben will be twice the size of the original and he'll intimidate Jay and end up bullying him in some way.

I swear to god if DTC puts ben and johnny together my respect for him will totally dissapear grrr

He won't be able to resist!
Nor Johnny.