I think the problem is that he's trying too hard, he's almost forcing the performance. I think all he need to do is let the emotions and reactions come naturally from a truthful and authentic place.

It's soapland - all characters are supposed to be "dramatic" from time to time. They have built Ben up as a person searching for an identity, a purpose, balancing wanting to be a Mitchell versus wanting to be "himself". The character is a ball of tension. This is exactly what the storywriters and DTC want. Harry Reid is playing it as he has been told. Young, tense, hot-headed, confused.

Yes finally somebody agrees with me. I've said this before on here but everyone always says how great he is so I shut up about it. The shouting is actually doing my head in! It sometimes makes me jump when he shouts all of a sudden! Lol

I like the actor, but sometimes it's like he's doing a comedy skit in which he's playing a parody of a cockney gangster, it definitely needs toning down!!

it needs toning down yeah... but it wasn't that bad ...

I think it would help if they gave him something breakable to hit when Ben loses it

A brilliant description.

BIB: Oh God! I felt so sorry for Bobby when Ben screamed "what are you still doing here" the other day.

It's so weird! Yes he's gay and in the closet with loads of other issues but this stupid hard-guy act is on par with Elaine's singing!! It really is cringe!!!

The way he crumples up his face when he's playing "upset" is awful and forced. And having to (try) and take him seriously when he was telling Gavin to go was ....well...lets just say hard to watch! It's so theatrical and over-dramatised! Horrible.

I agree with the op he is a dreadful actor, especially when angry he just doesnt convince me at all.

I think he was brilliant. Like the majority of people seem to think.

Harry has made Ben his own lately

He is awful and I haven't liked his performances since day 1. He simply can not act in front of a camera. He hasn't made the transition from theatre to television very well at all. It shows. Or at least to me.

He tries to hard and it feel like a ploy to bag soap award nominations.

I didn't realize he had worked in theatre prior to this. That possibly explains things. Theatre is a whole different discipline, requiring big, exaggerated gestures and lots of projection. This does not work on television, where you have to be much more subtle and less melodramatic.

I've enjoyed his performances. I am however a bit fed up with the writing for him. The constant shoving boys away from him after coming on to them is getting boring and his threatening Gavin was laughable. The actor though is doing OK.

Me too, I prefer this Ben to the last one, but the screaming has to stop.......too many actors think that if they pull faces and shout loud enough that is acting......no, I prefer the quiet menacing attitude than this......

Me too!

No, that's the dreadful Roxy!


He is brilliant - unlike most of the cast.

Joshua Pascoe was far better

Yes, I agree with this, although it would seem we're in the minority. I liked his quiet menacing version of Ben, much more subtle. He didn't feel the need to shout every five minutes.

But Harry Reed is much too theatrical. It's like he's doing an exaggerated impression of Michael Cain.

Indeed. He still remains my fav Ben Mitchell.