Ballum Part 8 - Ben ALMOST Tells Callum About His Eating Disorder!

[@calssuittie]

When these two are given proper material, they just shine every time and really show why they are the best partnership on the show. Phenomenal acting from max and tony 👏🏼

[@artl1832]

Couldn’t agree more dear. They need to have that award this year 🎉

[@JackRussell-nk3fe]

@@artl1832 Sadly Chris Clemshaw is too interested in bringing back the dead past with Cindy and Ian. No doubt there will be "lots of drama" as Ian Woodyat tries to act convincingly

[@gillianmaynard4468]

That last screamed “no” makes me wonder whether Ben saw Callum or Lewis in his head as Callum advanced to comfort him.

[@a.l.y.a.m.e.d486]

That's a good question. I think he was just triggered and pushed when Callum was trying to comfort him. I do the same thing still and it's been 26 years.

[@Leeloula1457]

This is when these actors are at their best. Pure chemistry

[@mirrorforce8025]

Lola, Lex, the stuff that happened with Lewis, getting abused by your stepmother, being in an abusive relationship with an older man, growing up in Phil's care, losing your mom as a kid then her reappearing, going to jail, being beat up, two different hate crimes, witnessing one of your lovers die from said attack, almost divorcing, Jesus H Christ, Ben Mitchell the fact you're still standing on two feet is a miracle.

[@whoflungpooatme8932]

You forgot being shot, nearly dying from a drug overdose, going deaf after fighting and causing a massive boat crash which then killed your step brother, your husband being kidnapped and almost killed, your dad almost getting sent down for life as well. I'm suprised Ben hasn't completely lost his marbles if I'm honest.

[@Zordboy]

@@whoflungpooatme8932 I think it's interesting how everyone forgets Keanu's responsibility for the boat crash (none of which would've happened if he hadn't kidnapped Callum -- someone who had nothing to do with his beef against the Mitchell family), to the point where even Sharon has forgotten about this.

[@cg2135]

Thank you so much for posting their scenes every day. Max & Tony are so good together -even when they break my heart 🥲

[@rivers0ng]

Classic trauma response - getting angry at the mention of it it’s definitely normal, deep down Ben knows that does have something to do with it

[@day6lovebot]

ben is just so ill and callum fully understood that ben is triggered by thoughts of lewis, did you see his face when ben screamed i said no TWICE?? that’s why callum didn’t shout back and he listened to ben and left because ben has shut down completely because of the pain he’s in. callum wants to listen and help and ben needs professional help which he WILL get. ben shouldn’t have said what he did, no callum didn’t deserve it but you can understand that ben didn’t mean it and he’s in an extremely bad place mentally and physically.

[@theresabruebaker1030]

Sometimes, with their scenes, I feel it deep down 😢

[@mechellemybell1000]

Man that was beautiful. Props to max and tony.

[@justaperson2222]

this hurts so much. ben using harsh words to push callum away is just classic ben 🥺

[@pistachioonut6683]

This is heartbreaking. On a side note, i wish callum would get his own storyline, feels like his been of ben and his brother for the last few years

[@zeek936]

that hurts like really fckin hurts 🥺

[@ninoj3774]

Sad. I hope Ben seeks help for his ED and a support group to talk about his rape. It's something he (understandably) hates to talk about and has a very hard time talking about. The mere mention of Lewis causes triggers and a great deal of discomfort for him. Tony's performance very good here. If only EE give this man more screen time and more things to do besides being a support...

[@bryan8106]

love the consistent writing of Ben, if he have a problem then it's everyone fault.

[@Js2Jo]

I love the chemistry between Max Bowden and Tony Clay as Ben and Callum on the show!!

[@helenadams6625]

Ben said no to Callum . Has soon has Ben shouted it again Callum realized that this has some thing to do with Lewis and that Ben has never got over what happened to him and things have gone down hill ever since. Ben really needs to have a proper heart to heart with Callum and tell him everything.

[@Indianaguy72]

I know he's f'd up but I actually hate it when he yells at Callum. Callum's such a little angel.

[@arbsan8366]

I actually like ho Callum’s just walked away because I kinda feel Ben is gonna regret pushing him away

[@day6lovebot]

can you all understand that ben said those things because that’s what his ptsd riddled mind is telling him is true? he said that callum has one over on him but ben is actually the one that thinks he deserved to be raped and he doesn’t deserve to be in pain because of it so he can’t fathom why callum would think that’s what’s causing his issues. he thinks callum is sitting thinking told you so and this is what happened because you tried to cheat. it’s not actually what ben or callum think.

[@melissarennerliamrenner1573]

The harshness of those words I truly believe Callum ment no harm he just wants to be there for Ben.

[@diegoalejandrotorrespinzon2743]

I love how Callum has evolve towards Ben’s behaviour. Ben shows little change since 2019 Ben. But Callum, knew to better back off but he knows when Ben is on a rage he is impossible to be talked to, so Callum prefers to leave even if he goes hurting.

[@lexi219]

Ben is so damaged from all of his trauma that I think the character needs professional help before we’ll see an actual change in his behavior. I really hope this storyline leads to his getting mental health support, but it’s a soap, so who knows.

[@diegoalejandrotorrespinzon2743]

@@lexi219 Callum better dump him so he can get someone else! Lol 😝

[@lexi219]

@@diegoalejandrotorrespinzon2743 “The more disgusted other people are by him, the more I fancy him” - Callum Highway 2023 Callum ain’t going nowhere.

[@diegoalejandrotorrespinzon2743]

@@lexi219 yeap yeap

[@JackRussell-nk3fe]

I know Ben has been through a lot, but given the loyalty, love and friendship Callum shows him all the time, how can he be so terrible towards Cal?

[@sahaben]

living with poor mental health does stupid things to you. Yes he does lie but to try and protect himself, he opens up and he gets hurt… so he lies to protect himself… inevitably hurting himself in the long run. So another form of self harm. Ben has done wonders for Callum and Callum has done wonders for Ben. But if you think about even just the last year that is full or trauma let alone his life. Requires hearing aids due to illness, leaves his Dad, Mum is ‘killed’ in a country away from the rest of his family. Returns to the square and his dad isn’t there… lives with his brother. Then lives with his Dad. Gets abused by Stella, Dad’s future wife, Dad is homophobic, abused sister the way Stella did as sees as love, kills Heather accidentally when upset because Dad has made him hate himself so badly. Becomes a Dad to Lexi, but doesn’t know how as doesn’t have that role model. Comes back from prison and hides he is gay again. Dates Abby, Abby fakes a baby and that his Dad killed it. Has a relationship with Paul, thinks Dad left because of him. Turns out Dad was kidnapped by his Step-Dad and his Mum is actually alive which makes him question why he wasn’t enough. Finally comes out and is Paul’s boyfriend to be part of a hate crime and him seriously hurt and Paul killed. Then had Paul’s Nan blame him and openly admitting to all he wants to be dead. Then makes up with Pam, goes to hearing but also gets attacked again with Jay but the homophobes who killed Paul. While all that is going on Jay loses his Dad moves in, gets called a pedo gets kicked out and lives homeless so Ben has no real support. Also at some point Phil leaves Ben naked on the motorway for police to bring him home. He finally leaves the square. Comes back and finally has a relationship with Lexi, becomes friends and more with Callum, helps Callum with coming out. Doubts himself as a Dad, gets shot at the non-wedding of Callum. Gets removed from the will with Keanu in the will. Sister gets injured when he is shot. Starts a relationship with Callum where Stuart is nasty and he gets beaten for being gay. Louise us her baby and Sharon hers. Finds out Sharon cheated and tasked by his Dad to kill Keanu so leaves Callum to keep him in the dark. Keanu fakes being killed. When he goes to leave he gets back with Callum as Dad takes the blame, loses Dad, Sister and Niece in one hit. Callum gets kidnapped, Phil tries to kill Keanu, in the process crashing a boat, killing his ‘brother’ Denny and making Ben lose his hearing. Feels awful and worthless and tries to leave Callum. Goes to have an operation and poorly, then Covid. Finally gets operation. Callum spies to Phil to save Ben. After Dad forced Ben to participate in crime as made him worthless for being deaf. Nearly loses Lexi as was hit by a car as he didn’t hear the car. Finally kinda back on track gets married, gets in an argument with his Dad and Whitney drives a car at them. Leaves Callum as doesn’t feel good enough. Gets rapped by Lewis, almost dies trying to cope by drinking and doing drugs. Lola gets a brain tumour and eventually dies he is fighting so his daughter doesn’t go through losing a mother like he did and wasn’t there when Lola dies. He has a lot of baggage and trauma a lot of which was brushed aside. The only real role model he has is Phil who has for at least half his life left liked he hated him for being him or not being around at all. The fact he is still standing and alive is a miracle!! Maybe he hasn’t always been the best but he hasn’t had a stable upbringing, or one solid stable relationships of parental figures. He is trying his hardest is Ben and feels asking for help is a weakness thanks to Phil…. So tries to deal with it all.

[@barbaraswingle5114]

In my opinion I think Callum is right. In some where I think Ben know Callum is partially right. With all the things going on after Lola death Ben forgot he was dealing with things Lewis too. However he is hurting so much he can't reach it. I thought Callum was perfect today and Ben is just unreachable right. I had times like that and probably react like Ben. (I didn't and don't have a eating disorder but I was sexual abuse as a kid.) I hope it is not the end for them. I really do love their love story!

[@littlemissie7978]

I found that end scene a bit hard and painful to watch.😕 I don't think Callum deserved the bad mouthful he just took from Ben. I hope he comes around soon and apologises to Callum before it gets worse. He is Ben's husband after all. That look on Callum's poor face made me feel bad for him.😒🙁

[@naruto199797]

He's like his father in the sense that when he's struggling he can't tell the people who love him what's going on and when he does it's because they know what is happening asking for help or talking to someone you trust isn't a sign of weakness you can't do everything alone

[@KyonGaku]

Hum...Excuse me, what the actual fuck- How did it turn from a scene that was so cute to something soooo hard in 3 seconds, like...These writers are killing me. They were actually moving forward with this, but they just took 20 steps back. I mean, Callum is the most patient character in Eastenders, that's for sure (only other contender for this specific storyline is Honey, but she's less personnaly affected by how Ben acts right now), but damn his patience has got to have some limit. I home he blows up at some point, sooner rather than later, and shouts at Ben for a wake up call. Because that was not deserved, and pretty damn disgusting of Ben to insinuate that Callum would get off to the idea of his husband getting raped. I hope they will adress Callum's feelings for this one, because he might be a saint to some but he's not a robot either. This reminds me of the row they had when Callum actually shouted at Ben (when he was still entirely deaf before his operation). It needs to happen again. I really emphasize with Ben's struggle, really, but that was absolutely not deserved.

[@Anneee27]

It was not deserved at all. But the situation is truly just so messy. Ben is at his lowest right now. His coping mechanism is disappearing because people are figuring it out. He was confronted with it and he just started realizing he has an ed. Callum just made a connection he himself never made. That his r*pe is connected to his ed. I think it made him feel cornered (also just the fact that the r*pe was mentioned). The words he used against Callum were not deserved at all and way too harsh, but he needed to find a way out and that's how he could do it. By using very harsh words. Callum not really saying anything back makes me think he knows Ben doesn't mean what he says and that Ben truly is at his lowest right now.

[@KyonGaku]

@@Anneee27 Yeah, honestly I think that's why Callum is my favorite character of the whole show by a landslide. He's just so patient, caring and he knows Ben so well. And I do understand that Ben is at his lowest right now and says things he doesn't mean as a coping mechanism because he doesn't have anything else. However, I do hope that they won't just brush off this conversation when Ben realizes how hurtful the things he said were (he probably already has). Because that was a whole new level of low, even for Ben. This needs to be adressed properly in my opinion, because that was so fucked up to say to anyone, especially to Callum who feels so guilty already for not seeing what had happened to Ben. And if it has to come in the form of Callum shouting at Ben for him to finally express what he feels and not be just a side character anymore/for Ben to open up, then I'll take it (I do hope Ben has made some sort of progress and goes to apologize before it comes to that though).

[@Anneee27]

@@KyonGaku I love Callum so much!! And yeah same here, I hope it will be adressed. The words were too harsh and even though I understand where it's coming from, Callum didn't deserve that.

[@mechellemybell1000]

Ben lashes out. Callum brought up Lewis and the chips fell. He knew this would push Callum away. I don’t think Callum would ever leave him in this state because he knows this isn’t Ben to compare him to a rapist when Ben is non stop telling Callum how he’s so kind etcetc. I’m not saying Callum would lay down and just let Ben call him all these horrible things … but Callum does know obv that he was raped, so there’s no way in my eyes Callum would leave. He’ll be around even if he’s not cool with Ben atm. But Ben comparing him to his rapist? Once Ben has a more clear head.. that’s going to kill him that he said that to Callum.

[@KyonGaku]

@@mechellemybell1000 Oh yeah, he's gonna feel terrible about it that's for sure. Maybe he'll talk to Jay or Kathy about it, I don't know (they're the only people I can think of right now who know about Ben's SA apart from Callum). And I don't think Callum would leave Ben either, especially right now (I mean, it's sad to say but Ben has done much worse then lashing out to be honest- Even if those words were especially harsh). I do hope that either this conversation or Callum shouting at him (like he did once before Ben's operation) will bring some progression to the storyline and to Ben opening up go Callum, because damn. I would hate it if this row was for nothing (which, with these writers, isn't off the table).

[@lucypreece7581]

Ben may not want to acknowledge it but Lewis is the root cause of all of this. His body feels different and he never got proper justice. The sooner Ben confronts this the sooner he can get proper help. All the stuff with Lola and Lexi was just a distraction but it didn't help. Too many situations where Ben didn't have control. Where his autonomy was taken from him. Where others made decisions around him. It is enough to tip anyone over the edge. Lashing out won't help. Ben really needs to take stock and acknowledge that what Lewis did affected him more than he thinks.

[@moodyjenny86]

Thank you for posting these scenes !!! When is Callum actually going to find out though??

[@della-mariebilbe7321]

It’s get so upsetting you guys are a good couple ❤

[@MickeyFlipper]

Time to call in for a therapist

[@morelorel]

never letting ben have a sweet moment. 😡🤬

[@bom_w1b]

Omg Ben noooooo, he better make it up to Callum later on or I’m rioting 😤

[@Kylchytska]

at the moment he did what he felt. it is difficult for him to open up completely. it is impossible to do as the audience wants

[@gillianmaynard4468]

I am bereft

[@angelaholmes8888]

Once again ben is pushing callum away it's so hard to watch this

[@jf-ic9tz]

wow. if anything can be said about eastenders writing team, it’s that these writers never shirk away from writing the most insane sh!t you’ve ever heard in your life. they keep finding new ways to one up themselves. no idea how they’re gonna top this one. and you know they’re gonna try because apparently ben never gets better, only worse

[@George-cs3kr]

I said no ☹️☹️☹️☹️

[@dannydougin3925]

Sorry, worst story line for them, don't care for it at all.

[@Owen47468]

Unfortunately its quite realistic for victims of assault to form eating disordered habits. Even more important to tell it from a male perspective. Its not everyones cup of tea to watch but thats life, its not rainbows and unicorns, depressing things happen to and thats what eastenders is showing us

[@alangiles2763]

Callum should really walk away from Ben. Callum is a good man, treated like dirt by miserable, whining moaning Ben. He makes Emmerdale's Aaron look positively jaunty and devil-may-care.

[@Owen47468]

Eh its called trauma & ptsd. Lewis’ name was brought up unexpectedly. This triggered ben. Thats not treating callum like “dirt”.

[@alangiles2763]

@@Owen47468 He does it all the time - lets be frank, what happened with Lewis wouldn't have happened if Ben had not gone after him (following another of his outbursts with Callum). He was unpleasant to Honey - he is unpleasant with everybody, but, no, we have to be sympathetic because it's Ben. IMO Callum deserves far better. He is either clearing up his mess when Ben has tried to impress daddy again with one of his criminal exploits, or when he has another of his dramas. They need to stop making Ben the male Shona

[@Owen47468]

@@alangiles2763 what happened with lewis would not have happened if lewis would accept that ben was saying no and not consenting to having s3x, but lewis continued on & assaulted him. That’s not ben’s fault at all. Lewis even went on months later and did the same thing to another person. Not ben’s fault at all. As callum has been saying since 2019, he loves ben & no matter what is up with him he will continue to love him. EastEnders is not going to have someone breaking up with their partner because of mental health issues when at the same time telling stories about mental health. That would be poor form and not in the character of callum.

[@musicmatters858]

I think if I were Callum I’d be starting to think about my own future. He’s been treated poorly with Lexi, and only seems to get airtime when Ben has his latest crisis. I’m not sure what he would actually be getting out of this relationship. I doubt his emotional needs are being met. I hope the writers wrap this up soon, and give Callum something more positive to do, but I expect it’ll be a new guy at the station who he gets close to, or something. Can’t say I’d blame him. Ben quite frankly feels like he needs some more years on him before he’s remotely ready for a balanced relationship. If I was Callum at this point I’d be thinking about an amicable break-up and moving on.

[@abdurahim1110]

What is gone into you Ban Mitchell

[@Guitar-qv6gu]

He’s got problems as a result of being raped. He’s also got bulimia. You would know if you watch it.

[@abdurahim1110]

@@Guitar-qv6gu Sam Mitchell and Louse Mitchell could support Ban Mitchell every step of way

[@Guitar-qv6gu]

@@abdurahim1110 BEN MITCHELL. Hardly possible when they aren’t there pmsl

[@shyathena34]

So I’m kind of over Ben. I understand he has been through a lot of trauma however that does not give him the right treat others around him like dirt. His refusal to open up and get any real help is negatively affecting him, his marriage and his daughter. I honestly don’t understand why Callum stays with him. What does he ever get from the relationship. He spends most of his time trying put Ben back together when he breaks, he can’t spend the rest of his life doing that. He deserves better.