EASTENDERS fans were left heartbroken after the soap released a new picture of Tony Clay’s character Callum Highway on social media.
The picture teased that Callum might be moving on from his husband Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) following his departure from the soap.
Max Bowden has been playing Ben Mitchell on EastEnders since 2019. Some of his major storylines have included parenting his daughter Lexi, and his relationship with and subsequent marriage to Callum Highway (Tony Clay).
However, their wedded bliss came crashing down earlier this year when Ben was arrested for committing fraud in the United States the previous year.
He was extradited to the U.S. and faces years in prison, leaving his family in Walford devastated.
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Loyal Callum promised to wait for his husband, but Ben told him not to put his life on hold.
Is Callum moving on?
A photo of Callum posted on EastEnders’ social media accounts certainly seems to suggest so.
Fans believe that the photo, which depicts Callum hanging out with fellow Walford local Martin Fowler (James Bye) in the Queen Vic, shows that Callum is single and ready to mingle.
What’s hinting at that is not that Callum has his arm around Martin, who presents as heterosexual, but that he doesn’t appear to be wearing his wedding ring in the photo.
While it is possible that his ring has just slipped down his finger and is hidden by Martin’s hand, fans believe the photo is teasing Callum’s relationship status.
Viewers who noticed the missing ring were quick to comment on what it might mean.
“Where is Callum’s wedding ring?” one viewer asked, while a second observed: “Callum’s wedding ring is not there.”
Commenting on Callum and Martin together, another viewer said: “Sweet couple! Now, I suspect that this pic is an off the set pic, so it’s not in the episode itself.”
“Callum needs a new love interest but doubt writers turn Martin bisexual,” said a fourth.
Joking along, another viewer commented: “Me thinking this was the next plot twist.”
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But a sixth said they were onboard. “I’d ship em. Bring on Callum and Martin,” they praised.
However, most fans were asking for Callum and Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff) to get together.
While Callum’s relationship status remains up in the air, one thing is for sure — Max will not be returning as Ben in the near future.
The actor quit the soap when his contract renewal date came around, feeling it was time to move on.
Max Bowden quit EastEnders after five years
After his exit, Max posted a sweet tribute to his character and the soap on Instagram.
“It’s been one hell of a ride! Thanks for taking Ben to your hearts and allowing my version into your lives,” he wrote.
Continuing, he said: “I had an amazing five years at BB EastEnders and learnt a hell of a lot about myself and the craft I love so dearly; it got me through some very hard personal times and I will be forever grateful!
“I really will never be able to thank everybody for the support enough, because the fans of the show are so passionate, caring, and invested, and it enables us as actors to want to keep going and always be better; so I really do, from the bottom of my heart, appreciate every single person who has sent any sort of positivity my way over the last five years - I love you all.
“Ben Mitchell 6.0 over and out. Goodbye EE! I’ll miss you all,” he concluded.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
