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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Joel Leaver

EastEnders star Max Bowden's pregnant ex 'heartbroken' amid rumours of him dating co-star

EastEnders ' Max Bowden has left his pregnant ex-girlfriend feeling "heartbroken" and "humiliated" after embarking on a relationship with his co-star Shona McGarty, it has been reported.

It was previously said the soap actor, 27 - who has played Ben Mitchell on the BBC show since 2019 - had split from his girlfriend Roisin Buckle, 36, earlier this year.

And Max recently sent tongues wagging he had begun a relationship with Shona, 30 - who plays Whitney Dean on the soap - after he was seen leaving her home last month and holding hands with the actress at a kebab van.

Now a heavily-pregnant Roisin, who is due to give birth in August, has reportedly told a pal she is devastated by his new romance.

Max Bowden and ex-girlfriend Roisin Buckle are expecting a child together (Max Bowden/Instagram)
He's rumoured to be dating co-star Shona McGarty (WireImage)

A source told The Sun: "It has been dreadful for Roisin, she feels humiliated and disrespected, she is expecting a baby and although she is a strong woman she feels very let down.

"She never expected Max to move on so quickly, she believed they were on a break, taking time out of their relationship to sort out their differences, having to see him and Shona together has been heartbreaking.

"When he was pictured leaving Shona’s home she had people asking her what was going on; work colleagues asking if she was OK about it all, which she found incredibly embarrassing... she feels like she’s at the centre of a real-life EastEnders plot."

He's a cast member on EastEnders alongside Shona, who plays Whitney Dean (BBC / Jack Barnes)

Roisin's pal said during their time apart the mother-to-be didn't think he was involved with anyone else, but things had been "tricky" between her and Max for a few weeks.

Max and Roisin are said to have still be talking to each other though, with her "keeping him updated" on their pregnancy journey- with their baby due later this summer.

The beauty is said to have been "shocked" when she "found out" about him and his co-star Shona, with Roisin having burst into tears.

Roisin is said to have felt "heartbroken, humiliated and disrespected," with the friend saying it's been as though her entire world has been "crumbling around her" when the pictures emerged.

The insider added although they had "split up," Roisin had "truly believed" they would work through their problems and rekindle the relationship sometime in the future.

Max (right), pictured with two co-stars, has been on the soap since 2019 (Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)
He's rumoured to have got close to co-star Shona (Getty Images)

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The source said although she feels "let down" by her ex-boyfriend, she now hopes that he will start being "more supportive" - with her "excited" to become a mother.

They said although Roisin "can't get her head around" Shona starting a relationship with Max knowing that he's soon to become a dad, she has "no ill feelings" towards her.

Max and Roisin are said to have met last summer and went public with their relationship towards the end of last year.

He's said to have moved out of her home in early March though, with the source saying that Roisin was "crying a lot" and her hormones had been "all over the place."

Max is best known for playing Ben Mitchell on EastEnders (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

They further commented that the couple agreed to work on their problems with Roisin said to have believed that having some time away from each other "would do them good."

The Mirror approached representatives of Max and Shona for comment.

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