EastEnders: Ben Mitchell and Callum Highway separated in lockdown

EastEnders\' Ben Mitchell and Callum Highway will be apart when the soap returns.

Max Bowden and Tony Clay have revealed their loved-up characters have spent months away from each other during the coronavirus pandemic, with Ben deciding to spend time with his family, including dad Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), his daughter Lexi (Isabella Brown) and her mother Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold).

Speaking to Stacey Dooley on \'EastEnders: Secrets from the Square\', Max said: "Ben has been in lockdown with his dad Phil, his daughter Lexi and her mum Lola.

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"Phil was in a high-risk category because of his liver transplant a few years ago, and Ben wanted to be with his daughter in lockdown, obviously.

"But Ben was personally not in a good place when we left him. He was going back to a life of crime while Callum was going the other way and becoming a copper."

Tony admitted there will be an "interesting" dynamic to explore after lockdown.

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He added: "They\'ve not been able to see each other, and it will be interesting to pick up their dynamic after that.

"Callum finally got Ben away from his dad and the dodgy jobs, then he\'s back with him again."

Ben\'s personal struggle - as well as his hearing loss - will be explored further when the BBC soap returns in September, including some soul-searching for the character.

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Max pondered: "Who is the most important man in Ben\'s life, Phil or Callum? That is the big question.

"Is Ben going to be the man he wants to be with Callum, or the Ben his dad wants him to be? It\'s hard to answer that until we get back."