Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) is back to his old tricks in EastEnders next week when son Ben (Max Bowden) is arrested for a previous crime.

The storyline kicks off Max’s exit after five years of appearing in the BBC soap.

As Callum Highway’s (Tony Clay) birthday approaches, he’s put out to realise that his husband hasn’t made any arrangements to celebrate it.

Following pressure from daughter Lexi (Isabella Brown) and some wise words from his dad, Ben decides to pull out all the stops and throw a surprise birthday party at the Queen Vic – which ends in disaster.

Callum is thrilled with the gesture, but less so when his colleagues at the cop shop turn up at the pub and arrest Ben for a previous crime he’s committed.

Despite pleading his innocence, tensions begin to rise amongst his family leading to Phil calling in his infamous lawyer Ritchie Scott (Sian Webber).

As a huge argument breaks out, Lexi walks in and demands to know the truth about her dad.

When Ritchie arrives, Lexi remains adamant that should be kept in the loop which prompts her step-dad Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) to take her to visit him.

The meeting doesn’t go smoothly, with her getting upset and deciding to turn her back on Ben, who then calls his dad and puts in a mysterious request.

Chatting with Callum about the ordeal, Phil convinces him to give his son a second chance.

Ben’s mum Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth) becomes suspicious of his actions and confronts him, demanding to know what has been kept secret from the family.

Later in the week, Callum decides to use his professional expertise to help Ben’s case – but will he be able to get him released?

That remains to be seen for now!