Tragedy strikes for the Beales and the Mitchells when they learn Ben is dead in EastEnders!
With Kathy Sullivan nowhere to be found in Albert Square, her son, Ian Beale, answers her phone only to receive the shocking news that his half-brother, Ben Mitchell, has been involved in an incident with Paul Coker and he's in hospital with critical injuries!
Ian and Ben's frantic dad, Phil, race to the hospital, where they wait anxiously for news of Ben's condition. When that news comes, they fear the worst… and they're right as a doctor breaks it to them that Ben is dead! How will Phil and Ian react? And who will break the devastating news to Kathy when she shows up?
Heartbroken Ian and Phil steel themselves as they prepare to formally identify Ben's body in the hospital mortuary.
Earlier, having just heard the news that Ben's critically ill in hospital, a shaken Ian and his stepson, Steven, seek out Phil, who's with Roxy Mitchell and Shirley Carter.
Hard man Phil is rocked to the core as Ian reveals the shocking news to him.
Along with Steven, Phil and Ian race to the hospital, where they ask if there's an update on Ben's condition.
After a long and anxious wait, DC Angie Rice appears with a doctor, who breaks the terrible news that Ben has died.
Meanwhile, in a hotel away from Albert Square, Kathy is oblivious to her son's fate, having just enjoyed a secret night of passion with Buster Carter.
When Kathy gets back to the Square, she's devastated to hear from Steven that her son's dead and Shirley tries to console her.
Back at the hospital, Phil and Ian wait, knowing they face the awful task of formally identifying Ben's body.
DC Rice carefully prepares Ian and Phil for the ordeal that lays ahead.
How will Ian and Phil cope when they enter the mortuary to view Ben's body? Watch EastEnders on BBC1 from Monday, 18 July.
