He was just as culpable for how bad that scene was. Did the director ask for him to screw his face up into a weird and freakish contorted little shape? I laughed out loud through the whole scene it was that bad.

The fact he managed to keep a straight (gay) face was impressive.

I thought that too

Terrible. The producers need to realise there are only a limited number of actors in soap who can pull off dramatic stuff. Clearly the actor playing Ben isn't one of them! Sharon is another one fine day to day but her acting in the Phil shooting was panto. Steve McFadden can pull this stuff off so convincingly that the producers get carried away expecting it from the lesser cast.

Thought it was just me! "Moi... baaaby's....gone!" through gritted teeth. He made Alice Band look good, that's for sure.

Jonny Labey's face was hysterical when Ben told him the baby had died. Which I don't think was ever the intention.

I'm surprised he understood him.

At least his acting makes the dull storyline comical.

And people say Eastenders can't do comedy.

That was hilarious!

Ma Baby Is Goooone.

I made some artwork so that amazing hilarious scene is forever remembered.

http://i.imgur.com/Lb8JZz2.jpg

Lol bloody cringeworthy.

Johnny Labey: "How do you want me to play this one?"
Director: "Give me that constipated otter look."

Good grief that's enough to give me nightmares.

I agree with you, he was terrible but a good director should never have let that take be the final one and made him do it again differently. Unless there was time or cost constraints they should have done one more take at least.

It was utterly dire.

Harry's acting tonight was better, imo.

Ben's always been decent enough but clearly cannot do high drama. Jay too was awful when finding out his girlfriend might have been crushed

Hi acting is strange at the best of times. he has a habit of putting a pause in every word, like last night to babe:

"i.........aint..........going..........nowhere" i don't understand that, i think he does it for dramatic effect, which never really happens.

I can't believe a director didn't just cut that whole section, because it made Hollyoaks acting look like Hollywood

Oh god, it really was terrible. Paul's facial expression genuinely made me laugh out loud.

I normally think Harry plays Ben very well but there was definitely something (well, a lot) off with his acting last night. He seemed to be back on track tonight.

He's the worst actor to play Ben that's for sure. Even Charlie Jones was better than him! Harry is just awful. I mean really awful! His facial expressions are just laughable. His boyfriend Paul is just as bad. That scene last night with both of them hugging was so cringy.

More beyond shit acting tonight.

Bad acting is part of the course in Eastenders.

I agree Jay limitations were very obvious tonight. He's not lead actor material but it doesn't matter as he's not usually asked to do much beyond basic day to day. As someone said both Ben and Jay anger scenes were pitiful.

Oh good, thought it was just me, seems an awful lot of pantomime tonight, that pink eyeshadow on Phil was awful, but I've felt it's been like that for a while. Mr Dyer doing his fair share these days too - as the saying goes, less is more and I like him! Ben just looks like he's learning on the job, not sure at this rate he will get too far with that.