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Max Bowden put in ‘hardest graft ever’ on EastEnders special ep

Max Bowden put in the "hardest graft ever" to film his ‘EastEnders’ special episode.

The 25-year-old star’s character Ben Mitchell will have his own ep next week which will focus on how he is dealing with his hearing loss following the River Thames boat crash, and the actor hopes fans will enjoy his hard work.

He wrote on Twitter: "Can’t wait for you guys to see this. Was the hardest graft ever, and hope it’s worth it for you all. (sic)"

Max’s tweet came shortly after ‘EastEnders’ released a new trailer for the special episode, which followed Ben as he walked around Albert Square and was nearly run over at one point.

The only sound in the majority of the clip is a piercing noise, which is what Ben can hear when people are trying to speak to him, until a horn beeps loudly and a van shoots past, missing him by inches.

Max recently admitted he has been learning sign language during lockdown to coincide with his character’s storyline.

The character will start to communicate with newcomer Frankie – played by Rose Ayling-Ellis – via sign language in upcoming scenes.

Asked if he had been learning the form of communication, he replied: "Yeah. At the minute, Ben’s very against it, because he doesn’t want to seem weak.

"But I think it’s important for me to truly understand the deaf community properly, to learn it and do my bit.

"Rose sent me a little course when we first went into lockdown, which was a free online thing, and I’ve been doing that.

"It’s an ever-growing skill that I’m having to work towards."

Max has been working with the National Children’s Deaf Society to research the storyline.