If you are able to look on the optimistic side of Ben's character and see it from his point of view, this is my take on his dilemma at the moment. Ben has friendship love for Abi and clearly enjoys her company, but has made it clear to her in the past that a relationship wouldn't work. Abi's insistence that she would make it work and his desire to please the Philth seemed to overrule his misgivings which undoubtedly will come back to bite him as Abi is clearly unbalanced.

When he met Paul, a flicker of excitement and happiness was injected into him and he obviously now wants to have a relationship with him but doesn't want to hurt Abi or upset Phil, so is trying to be secretive with I fear little success. Will Kathy's re-appearance allow him to break the shackles? Will Phil's power over him then dwindle? So many questions so few answers, as usual its in the hands of the writers but I would like to see some sort of redemption of this character after the Heather saga.

I feel for Ben. He's going through a really tough time but it was clear from his reactions that he'd much rather be with Paul then Abi. Ben and Abi have a great friendship but that's all it is, nothing more. Ben should be able to confide in his best friend because when you're going through something like that it can be so lonely.....

I really like the way new Ben is portrayed by Harry Reid. However, can't stand Paul so would much rather he got with someone else.

Johnny!

Your right about Abi - Bens told her, Jays told her, Lolas told her - and still shes ignoring it..

She wont acknowledge whats staring her in the face. ..

Well Ben, Paul, Jay and Abi are back on screen from 16 and 17th July so let's hope all this ramps up a notch, bunny boiler Abi is hilarious and is a good development in my view, I fear Ben's problems may only just be starting!

If i was ben id have never returned to phil and hed have to come to me and accept who i was before returning to a father/son relationship.

At the same time i think abi is using ben to make jay jealous.

I miss My johnny

Hope sam strike returns!

I think the cruelty of Abi pretty much shoving him back into the closet is an overlooked aspect of this storyline. it was a reprehensible thing to do when someone is effectively trying their hardest to express their feelings in that way to effectively hush them up and deliberately dismiss what they're telling you.

The problem I have is that they'll be the inevitable 'poor Abi' fall-out but it's entirely her own fault. if anything, weirdly, it should be 'poor Ben'.

I feel a bit sorry for both of them, however, you are right in that Abi's part in this cannot be overlooked. She effectively took advantage of Ben, who is still in denial about his sexuality, in order to get back at Jay. But she's a naive girl, and Ben has also used Abi as his beard in order to keep his dad happy. It was always going to end in tears.

I'm sure Kathy will coax him out of the closet for good when she gets back. It might put her in his good books after she let him think she was dead for years.

I agree with you all. I hope Kathy ( or Paul), will give him strength to become himself, & not what his bully Dad wants. Abi is a nutjob, I don't feel sorry for her in the slightest.

Bunny boiler Abi is great to watch, I do hope EE have seen that Lorna can play the bitch role well and gives Abi more stories like that in the future. She is far more interesting like that.

I do feel that Kathy's return could be a turning point and major catalyst in this story as I don't see Kathy as being homophobic or antigay and I could see her relaxed attitude to his sexualiity being a prompt for Ben to become open about his sexualiity.

Do you think that when Ben is with Abi he looks at a photo of Paul Coker, Ben Poker, and sings Dilemma....

No matter what I do, all I think about is you
Even when I'm with my boo, boy you know I'm crazy over you....

I think you've got it in one!