So is this pairing on the horizon after last night's episode? They've been skirting around the couple since 2014 when Sam Strike was still in the role but it seems to me that Ben has always been attracted to Johnny, though Johnny's feelings have been a bit less clear.

Could they be a new gay power couple or do they lack sufficient chemistry? Do their personalities suit each other or are they just too different? Would it lead to a renewed rivalry between the Mitchells and the Carters?

All thoughts welcome.

It's bound to happen eventually

I don't think it will Johnny has only ever seen Ben as a friend

It probably will happen but it's a relationship that we as viewers do not deserve to be inflicted to.

Johnny's still wooden and my tolerance for Ben's anger issues and self loathing isn't especially high.

Johnny is so wooden

It probably will happen but it would mean even more screen time for Johnny which is not a good thing at all.

From last night's episode, I get the feeling that Johnny isn't interested.

I'd like them to explore Ben having lots of casual sex and maybe getting involved in some of the seedier side of the gay world (yes, by that I mean my favourite topic: chemsex

Interesting stuff could be a decent storyline

They did kind of do the casual sex storyline already with Ben as that's how he contracted the STI, by hooking up with random men on Grindr while stringing both Paul and Abi along at the same time. Even recently he hooked up with a guy relatively quickly and slept with him and then admitted the next day it was too soon after Paul. He gets a lot of sex, basically! And as much as I'd like to see a chemsex storyline, I think it might be a bit much for the Beeb pre-watershed. They'd only really be able to make very oblique references to it so it would kind of be something and nothing. Don't get me wrong, I think it would be a good thing to cover but I'm just not sure how it would work on-screen.

Ah, sorry elly didn't know this as I'm only recently getting back into EE properly so have missed bits here and there.

I know exactly what you mean about it being a difficult story for any pre-watershed soap but I think that they could somehow do it with enough thought and planning. The sex doesn't necessarily have to be the main focus, more on how the behaviours impact on Ben's life. We don't need to see him naked at a three day long groupsex meeting The route EE seems to be going down they'd do a very good job of that.

The actor who plays Christian once made a comment to magazine about how he would like EastEnders to explore the 3 somes gay guys have with Christian and Syed. I think the BBC told him off for it. lmao

As for Ben and Johnny. Sounds terrible to pair them up imho. I don't think they have an ounce of chemistry. In fact the only male character Ben seems to work with other than Phil is Jay. I bet they are kicking themselves they never made Jay's character bi. They probably would have worked as a couple.

I feel like they missed the boat for Ben and Johnny. Ben and Johnny first met when Ben returned having killed Heather. It was instantly Mitchells Vs Carters with Johnny and Ben stuck in the middle. That was an interesting dynamic, plus neither had been in a gay relationship at that point.

I was under the impression Sam Strike didn't like the idea of Ben and Johnny so they never did it. Might be wrong though.

Jay and Ben have some of the best chemistry on the entire show I do think though this isnt actually intentional just that both the actors seem good mates in real life so I guess acting alongside your mate is easier than one of your colleges.
As for Johnny and Ben, a big FAT NO!!, Johnny is terrible!

I think they've made it clear it's going to happen. There was an attraction when Sam was in the role, then it was back burnered when Paul was around, but pretty quickly after his death they were having quite intimate scenes again.

Ben has definitely always fancied Johnny and I think Johnny is interested too (not least because they're two gay guys on a soap together and it's probably inevitable for that reason alone tbh). Johnny rejected Ben last night because he's a good person, could see Ben is in a bad place atm, was steaming drunk and he also knows it's too soon after Paul for something to happen.

They're laying the foundations tho and I'm expecting more scenes of them gradually growing closer until they get together, probably next year.

Maybe a cheeky Christmas kiss to set things off in 2017?

A+ idea. Then with Johnny freaking out because it's still a bit soon.

I'd rather see Johnny and Steven getting off under the mistletoe. At least they do have chemistry and Steven is wasted on Lauren anyway. Aaron is one of their best actors at present and deserves to be with someone who will bring out the best in him.

Chemistry is subjective though, I think Ben and Johnny have chemistry.

No, we don't need to see him naked tho, I can think of a few fm's that would like that

I don;t see any chemistry between them, so I'd rather they did not pair them up. Just because 2 guys are gay, doesn't mean they have to become boyfriends. I wish Paul had not left, I loved the way he softened Ben. Plus I loved the older Cokers too.

They have zero chemistry and it's clear Johnny isn't interested and never has been.

ugh .. really don't want to see this pairing at all.

Exactly.
It would feel really forced if all of a sudden Johnny developed a romantic interest in Ben who he clearly sees as a friend.

Rather Ben get with Jay! Wish Jay would become bi for Ben. Can't see it ever happening though.