'EastEnders' is to introduce a deaf character after Ben Mitchell suffered an additional loss of hearing following the tragic boat crash.
Max Bowden
The character, who is already partially deaf and is played by Max Bowden, was seen looking disorientated after Friday night's (21.02.20) epic River Thames-set episode, and show bosses have recruited Rose Ayling-Ellis as new character Frankie, who will help Ben come to terms with his diagnosis.
A source said: "Ben's life is going to be turned upside down but, thanks to Frankie, he gets some unexpected help.
"The storyline will highlight some of the challenges deaf people go through."
Soap writer Charlie Swinbourne, who is deaf, pitched the idea to 'EastEnders'.
He told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre TV column: "Being deaf myself I've always looked out for Ben Mitchell's character because he was the one who wore hearing aids.
"I wanted to explore how losing more of his hearing affects Ben, as well as how it makes him see the world - and his deaf identity."
Friday's episode marked the end of the soap's 35th anniversary week and ended in tragedy when Dennis Rickman (Bleu Landau) died after being trapped on the boat by Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), who later tried to save him but to no avail.
The epic ep also saw the recently returned Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) flee Walford again after a bust up with Ben and Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden).
And his former fling Sharon Mitchell (Letita Dean) gave birth to his son, but she then told him to leave the hospital after Keanu delivered the horrific news about Dennis, and Sharon blamed him for the youngster's death.
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