EastEnders fans have feared there is more going on with Ben Mitchell than Walford residents realise, and next week on the BBC soap they could be proven right.
Ben, husband Callum Highway and some of their friends were brutally attacked in a shocking hate crime earlier this year, with Callum left in hospital.
Viewers saw Ben question being public about his sexuality in the fallout, fearing more attacks would happen after Callum's assault.
The moment had triggered memories from his past, when his partner Paul Coker was murdered in a homophobic assault in 2016.
As Ben battled his past and the latest attack, it put a strain on his marriage as he was fearful of another incident happening.
Recently, residents have believed Ben is back on track, while viewers have noticed him acting out of character and possibly still struggling.
Next week, spoilers confirm the character's true struggles will come to light, as others finally realise how fragile he is.
It all kicks off when Callum reveals that his work want him to be the face of a new campaign aimed at the LGBT+ community.
Ben immediately panics, fearing it could make him a target, and later on viewers will see Ben shaken when he hears a loud noise at the club.
Clearly struggling with past and recent trauma, he keeps it to himself and even though Callum picks up on his unease, he doesn't realise the full deal.
Ben soon takes matters into his own hands and meddles with Callum’s campaign offer, after admitting he doesn’t want him to take part.
Callum is furious when he learns what Ben has done, with his husband soon forced to admit his fears that Callum will be attacked again.
Later in the week, Ben and new pal Lewis head off on a night out only for Lewis to be heckled by a group of men, which he shrugs off.
But an angry Ben goes to follow them only to be distracted, while soon he finds himself taking revenge.
The next day when he spots a man named Steve who spouted vile homophobic slurs at Lewis the night before, Ben drags him into the gym’s alley and attacks him.
His former stepmother Sharon Watts spots the commotion though and catches him in the act, as Steve lies unconscious.
Sharon covers for him though with Callum and the police, but when she confronts Ben it's clear to her he isn't doing okay.
She tells Kat to keep Ben out of Phil’s businesses as he’s too fragile right now, but she doesn’t listen - so is there more trouble ahead for Ben?
Got any theories or thoughts on the storyline? Let us know in the comments section below.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One.
