In forthcoming EastEnders scenes, Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) and Lexi Pearce (Isabella Brown) will experience their first significant milestone following Lola’s passing.
Ben missed Lola’s dying moments after travelling to America in quest of novel medical treatments that would extend her life long enough for her to witness Lexi’s first day of high school, as viewers will recall.
Lola received the news that the therapy she had been receiving to extend her life had ceased working after being diagnosed with an uncurable brain tumour.
However, Ben was keen for her to participate in a medication study he had heard about in America.
Sadly, Lola passed away before he got home, leaving him sad.
Ben and Lexi are both overcome with emotion as they get ready for Lexi’s first day of secondary school since they know how much Lola would have wanted to be there.
Overwhelmed, Ben goes to the Queen Vic to drown his sorrows, but Tony Clay, Ben’s spouse, quickly calls and tells him to come home so he can console Lexi.
Despite the terrible trauma she has encountered, Ben encourages her to open up because he does not want his daughter to suffer. Soon, she starts to become enthusiastic about the idea of attending a new school.
Callum quickly asks Ben whether he is alright, indicating that Lexi wasn’t the only one about whom he was concerned.
Ben claims to be alright, but is he being honest?
Ben recently confided in Callum about his bulimia struggles before seeking counselling, after Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) advised him that keeping his tragedy a secret may lead to his family falling apart.
