Ballum - let's discuss the Walford gays

People on Digital Spy are mad that the Pride episode contrasted the positivity of Bernie and Tina with Callum’s misery and Ben being bashed by Stuart; some even claim that the negativity it will discourage young boys from coming out.

DS is worse than WW for idiots. There were people on DS who claimed the Pride episode was homophobic, so...

I truly hope we get a proper reaction from Callum regarding Ben’s bashing. I pray he will not he look like a deer in headlights as Whitney sympathetically asks Kathy when Ben is getting out of hospital. I also hope Ben reports Stuart, rather than keeping stum to protect Callum.

TBH, Callum needs to pull his thumb out.

Ugh, I already started a thread before I saw this one.

Anyways, I guess we'll use this thread.

From tonight's episode: Ben gets annoyed with Ian

Ben tells Callum what Stuart did

Callum thanks Ben

R1 In a way they do have a point, but they miss the fact that accepting oneself and coming out is a long process. They can't just look at one episode, they have to look at the bigger picture. Bernie is at a stage where she can accept herself, Callum isn't. He will get there eventually though. Even if he's not there yet the drag music affected him so much that he started to cry. That means a lot.

So we had Bernie coming out to Ted who was lovely and accepted herself, and she had Tina helping her.

And we had Ben helping Callum the previous day, Callum coming out to Stuart but not being completely forthcoming and Stuart blamed Callum’s one night stand entirely on Ben.

Basically, Callum has internalised homophobia, and Bernie doesn’t, and Tina and Ben are liberated. Whoever wrote this episode did a good job.

Spoilers for next week.

Why was the original EE thread made subscription only? DL is ruining its own board.

This video is hilarious.

Has Ben got a hairy peen?

Ben doesn’t have a hairy chest, so he probably manscapes. It’s a shame he shaves his chest for Pride. If a guy is short, pale and stocky like Max Bowden, fur is sexier.

R11 hopefully that Ben’s next beating, the one in the summer trailer, is by the men he picks a fight with, and not something organised by Stuart or Jonno.

Halfwit - I refuse to call him Callum anymore - is lucky Ben lied to Whitney about who assaulted him. He really should not have. When he confronted Stuart, he just looked like a deer in headlights instead of cutting him the fuck off. Grow a pair, man. Stuart and Mick are in pink tie with Callum at the wedding - August 31 - so I guess he won't have have another bust up with his brother before then.

The funeral of his biracial Army friend was filmed at the end of May, so presumably we'll see those scenes before the end of July.

Hopefully Ben hooks up with the leather daddy from Pride, or reconnects with Pecs Guy, and makes Halfwit jealous of him for once.

Has either got a nice ass?

Max Bowden's small ass looks better than I would have imagined, considering the love handles etc.

Mmmm nice tight bum

R17 Yeah, he should have told Stuart to fuck off. He was such a pussy in that scene. I'll link it in the link preview in case someone wants to see it.

So many morons on Digital Spy were arguing that Stuart isn’t homophobic, he’s just protecting Halfwit from being sexually harassed by Ben. 🙄

Karen’s dancing partner from Pride, also called Caren, found her bafflingly attractive and asks her out on a date.

R22, the DS fools seem to like fugtastic Stuart for some reason.

I'm surprised how thick Max Bowden (Ben) is

So thicc.

Max Bowden tweeted about clean eating so perhaps Kate Oates was aghast at the footage of Ben in his bathrobe and put him on a diet.

Martin's face 😂 This shit is hilarious. Anyone watching?

Callum is in his own thoughts. He is not interested in talking about the wedding with Whit. I'm shocked. And now he wanys to run away! lol

wants*

Martin and Kush are legit like Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon in Nip/Tuck.

Stacey is Joey Richardson and Kat is Kimber.

I was hoping Ruby would be fucking Martin.

She is so not Max’s type, she’s over 20.

WHY is Oates perpetuating the myth that ginger Max Branning is some kind of pussy magnet? He is a typical bald EE fuggo.

Hopefully Ruby will turn gangster and kill him.

Ruby will be Max Branning's Ca$h $ow.

He has moves R32!!!

Mambo Number 5 is the song Max deserves.

Don’t Kat and Alfie own the house Stacey kicked her out of?

So how are we thinking Mel will leave? I am still hoping that incest spoiler from the last thread is true.

Mel kisses Kunter and she takes them out together.

Boob graze

so now Ben's nephew, Bobby, is going to be Islamic?

So they ARE radicalising Bobby so that he'll plot a terror attack! Yes, way to go. I've wanted this for ages.

It seems to be a happy happy joy joy storyline with the people of Walford supporting Bobby.

What happened with Ben and Callum in today's episode? I missed it.

Stuart will be sticking his nose into Callum's wedding plans, so we may get more Ballum content tonight.

Gray to flounce off tonight

We've suspected for a while that Gray has a dark side. I thought maybe domestic abuse at first. So Bobby isn't being radicalised, just converting? Boring.

Spoiler

Ugh... I'm not liking this at all. I wanted an actual affair starting BEFORE any revelation. They hooked up once, that's it. Why not have them get together, then Ben can spill.

Callum should count his lucky stars. Ben covered up that Callum’s brother committed a hate crime on the night of Pride. Ben kept his promise not to out Callum to his own physical and psychological detriment, so it’s time for Callum to take responsibility for himself.

So I was right! Domestic abuse it is

This would have worked a lot better and been more original if 6 ft 2 Chantelle had punched him.

Wow. Someone predicted that back in thread 9.

Converting will just be the first step for Bobby, I think. He’ll be radicalized over a period of time.

R52 even if that was the original intent I think the writers have been stymied now. The UK press and some Islamic leaders are praising the soap for raising awareness of the religion and making a positive story.

Jon Sen said EE worked with Muslim groups when creating the conversion storyline, so Bobby won’t become radicalised in the medium term.

He did show homophobia in the Pride episode, whether that’s because he’s Muslim or whether he is being a shifty teenage boy as Kathy claimed, it wasn’t revealed.

So, Tina and Iqra!

Iqra showed Kush thirst early on. Maybe she is bisexual.

I really want Bobby to become radicalised.

Does Ben still own the garage?

R51 Eastenders is nothing but predictable when it comes to white collar professionals in suits . They almost all turn out to be villains

R54 Converts to any religion or denomination are often way stricter than people born and raised in it . And prison probably didn't help either .

Kate Oates wouldn’t have said she was actually “frightened” by a storyline she’s planning to tell if Bobby was simply going to convert and not be radicalized. Come on, R54. Of course it’s going to happen. This Jihadi Bobby storyline is a very brave storyline to tackle. EE needs to be the show “everyone’s talking about” and this storyline will certainly do it. I’d bring Kush’s ex Shabnam into it as his “mentor.”

I thought Kate Oates was scared about the Mel/Hunter incest exit story.

[quote]Jon Sen stated,"We are thrilled to be working with the Muslim Youth Helpline on a storyline which serves to challenge preconceptions and prejudices about the role of faith in young peoples' lives,"

EE would hardly go to the extent of advertising the help they received from the community about challenging preconceptions and then Surprise! Bobby’s a suicide bomber who is setting up a dummy charity to funnel money to ISIL! That would be rude.

It's challenging conceptions by showing a white teen converting and then becoming radicalised. I wouldn't be surprised if nasty Adam wasn't shown to be involved at a high level. He is coming across as a cold hearted villain in this Honey/Habiba storyline.

And how scary would making Bobby a be? She’s already made Ben a people trafficker. If anyone were to become radicalised it would be more realistic for them to support the nationalist ultra-right, but Hollyoaks got there first.

R61, Hollyoaks is doing a white supremacy storyline. Bobby radicalized by Islam would be a first.

Walford gays, what is with old school Walford gays like Barry and Collin or Tony and Simon ? I'm too young to remember Barry and Collin though.

[quote] You just know that when lawyer Ritchie Scott is around, there is some serious business ahead. And that's exactly what Walford hard man Phil Mitchell wants to do when he meets up with the formidable solicitor. Recurring character Ritchie will have a meeting with Phil, who has a big request for her which could cause some serious upset and divisions - just what is he up to this time? And who is he keeping secrets from? We can't reveal exactly what he is planning to do but one person in particular is going to be left very unhappy. Prepare for more Mitchell mayhem as the secrets and lies continue to build . Sian Webber has reprised her role as Ritchie for the episode which will air on Monday 15th July at 8pm on BBC One.

Is Phil going to cut Ben out of his will?

EastEnders summer preview from that guy at Metro:

Callum will be forced to face the reality of what he wants in his heart as his wedding day to Whitney arrives but with an ever unstable Ben on the sidelines, will the dramatic truth come out, sending shockwaves through proceedings?

The Mitchell family face new tensions as a savage attack leaves Phil for dead - which secrets have come to light and will he survive? Meanwhile, Lisa is back in town after discovering that Louise is pregnant - but how will she cope coming face to face with familiar friends and foes?

There's a dramatic exit in store for Mel after her world collides with that of her jailed son Hunter again. But what lengths will she go to in order to protect him and will disaster strike?

In other developments, Stacey is stunned to find out that Max and Ruby are in a relationship but will this be what leads to her temporary departure?

One family faces huge tension as secrets explode while Mick is facing an intense new struggle.

More from that guy at Metro:

[quote]Bobby's new journey in EastEnders. A new storyline will see Bobby convert to Islam with the support of his friend Imran. His new found faith will help him to overcome his demons and positively start to rebuild his life.

R61 R62 In a way, Bobby's positive story involving Islam is somewhat like a different story on Hollyoaks, as there we've just seen how the angry, violent, and abusive teenager, Imran Maalik, reconnected with his Muslim faith as part of his story to overcome his demons and rebuild his life.

Also, can't ignore how the Gray-Chantelle story "looks" similar to the Laurie-Sinead story on 'Oaks: take what appears to be the super-attractive 'couple goals' pair, which features the hottest guy in the village, and have him turn out to be a spousal abuser.

R12 Some presented evidence that topic threads with never-ending "Parts" that are put up by stans, fangurls, etc. over and over and OVER ad nauseam were targeted. .. So while that's not really what the EE threads have been about, it's possible the "Part 10" of the previous thread title got it swept up in the raid.

R64 I think he already did that back in his liver transplant days .

R69 Yeah, that's exactly what happened, even though Ben had offered up part of his liver.

I think you're right R68 some of those threads where some go way overboard in their behavior like the ones about that soap actor, certain other threads or other threads about certain other actors have now been placed behind a pay wall.

Now back in topic. I don't think EE will have Bobby go radical and correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this almost like the umpteenth time where Phil gets attacked and left for dead.

Wait, so Ben has already been disinherited?

Then the following year, Phil gave The Arches to Ben (when he gave Jay the more valuable car lot).

But I'm confused as to the current status of The Arches. Sometimes Ben acts like he owns it, other times Phil does ???

R68, true. But just in case, we shouldn't number these threads, but have a slightly different title, always with Ballum in it, so people can find it. Always with gay/gays too, so DL knows it's a relevant topic and not just soap gossip.

This thread could go subscription only any second too, unfortunately.

Stephanie Davies was really over-acting here imo. Eyes full of fake glycerin tears.

Has EE done a storyline where the female is the abuser? I know Corrie did.

Agreed, r74. Write Ballum in the title (and one of their camp quotes), keep it unnumbered and write EastEnders in the first post.

R73 Kathy rang Ben because Phil was doing something with the deeds to the Arches after Alfie stole his money - but I cat remember what Phil was planning to do and if he went ahead with it.

Apparently there's a new EastEnders trailer with Ben and Callum. I've been looking everywhere but I can't find it. Do any of you know where I can watch it?

Gray is hot but holy shit he's such a bad actor. Wow. Oh well, at least he's nice to look at, lol. His wife Chantelle isn't that much better. They're both terrible actors.

Here ya go champ -

== Week 28 ==

Thur 18 - Ben E20 scenes and Attack Fri 19 - Ben attack. Wounds visible

== Week 30 == Phil Attacked

Fri 26 - Callum scene (in suit). Tiffany says Goodbye

Trailer:

== Same Episode (After Phil's attack) == Ben in Jacket looking at Arches Ben in Jacket Police corner square Ben in Jacket Trashes house

Ben/Callum car scene Ben wearing T-shirt, no bruises

I wonder if the scene of Ben making moo moo eyes at Callum in the car is before or after the wedding?

R80 Thanks.

I can barely stand Ruby as she is. .. Putting her with "the bald;ginger sack" (as Martin once called him) ain't gonna help.

Maybe we'll get lucky and they kill each other off .

Yes, I would enjoy a murder-suicide with those two.

I thought Kate Oates didn’t like fugly people. Why would Ruby be calling Max a pretty face? It makes so little sense. Ruby is thin and rich, she could do better.

Ben looking like he's whipping it out

Summer spoiler:

[Quote]The affair between Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) and Callum Highway (Tony Clay) will also sizzle.

R88 I love how the media calls it in affair . So far they've done "something " in a park once and ever since then Callum is on a guilt trip .

LOL at the Grim Reaper - who is coming for Kunter, right?

I hope they don’t do the obvious thing and have Ian turn bigot over Bobby’s conversion. He needs to be less annoying. And he used to be reasonably nice, like when he supported Ben when he was abused by Stella.

I hope they don’t do the obvious thing and have Ian turn bigot over Bobby’s conversion. He needs to be less annoying. And he used to be reasonably nice, like when he supported Ben when he was abused by Stella.

World Cup mention, so Max Bowden must be back from holiday. Also not that I'm complaining but he has a pot belly.

ONE scene is all we got tonight :(

It was a Ben scene btw. Callum was nowhere to be seen.

And it just an insert scene just filmed.

How to write Stacey out ...

Apparently Kim leaves next week ( WalfordWeb is in mourning ) . I think it's time to write out Patrick and Denise too , I know representation of minorities and such but both aren't really doing anything , Denise gets thrown into the path of any man she hasn't had a relationship with yet and senior citizen stroke survivor Patrick gets a new love interest because they don't really know what else to do with him when he's not spending half his time somewhere in the Caribbean .

That's a shame, I like Kim. Weird that she wasn't at Pride.

There has to be a story behind Kim not being at Pride and now Tameka Empson is making a quick exit. I thought Vincent might be returning later this year.

[quote]From Inside Soap : “With no idea that Ben is secretly trying to deal with his complicated feelings for Callum, Phil's had enough of his boy's excessive partying and wants to pull him into line"

Empson's exit is said to be just another break with her returning at some point.

Only Ben scene in today's episode.

This is all doe-eyed Callum's fault.

And Phil earned another Father of the Year trophy but I've got a question , how can Phil leave the Arches to Keanu when Ben is the one owning it .

I must have missed it somewhere ....... Who is Bobby's mother ?

Biological mother is Laura Beale, Ian's 3rd wife . She died after falling down the stairs when Bobby was a baby/toddler . Bobby was later adopted by Jane.

Ian's kids and their mothers : Steven (Cindy, bio dad Simon Wicks) , Peter and Lucy (Cindy) , Bobby (bio mom Laura, adopted mom Jane)

r105 that's what I'm trying to figure out. Ben returned to Walford because Kathy called him when Phil was trying to sell? mortgage? the Arches, so maybe he doctored the paperwork and transferred it to himself?

Mama Bear Karen may assault Phil in a pre-emptive strike when he finds out about Keanu and Sharon.

Hi Paul

R110 Watch him come out live even though he's been barely closeted for years now.

And NuBen wants your voooooote

R111 Did he and the "girlfriend- fiancée" break up? I notice they haven't posted anything on their "adventures" IG for quite some time.

Nice haircut. If you click that photo twice it's so BIG you can count his eyelashes.

^^^ Excuse R307. Wrong thread.

^^^ Okay, it's not me. DL is mixing threads and fucking up replies and numbers.

God I hated Paul’s headband.

R117 What was crazy about Paul's hair on EE is that he worked as a HAIRDRESSER.

And blessed with that thick mane he had, you'd think he'd have been changing his own haircut and debuting a new look and style about every three months.

btw - They're doing the same thing with hairdresser, Chantelle. Of course in her case, maybe Gray wants her to wear that boring cut day-after-day-after-day.

Rumor is Les is being killed off. Thank fucking Christ. I thought the so-called actor who played him was genuinely awful. I hope Pam is brought back on a permanent basis.

R119 I assume Les would be buried as Christine.

I'm okay with Pam ... in very small doses.

However, it they have the notion to pair her with Ted, then that wouldn't thrill me.

Hunter had a hot ass but he couldn’t live forever.

Will the coroner provide a complete report on the state of Hunter's ass?

Well, with the Hunter/Mel incest storyline obviously never having been a possibility what’s the upcoming storyline that Kate Oates has said she’s most afraid of? I think it’s definitely Bobby’s radicalization via Islam now.

I seriously doubt they'll go the radicalization route with Bobby as they've touted their behind-the-scenes collaboration with the Islam Youth Helpline organization in order to tell a story that shows "Islam as positive force in the modern world."

Per EP Jon Sen:

[quote] We are thrilled to be working with the Muslim Youth Helpline on a storyline which serves to challenge preconceptions and prejudices about the role of faith in young peoples’ lives. Bobby Beale’s story will show how a young boy uses religion to help find peace and give his life meaning, structure and purpose.

Uhhhh, R124, EE is a SOAP. Unless Bobby is being written out then he will be radicalized.

R123 She said that nearly a year ago (October 2018). Personally, I think it's the Gray-Chantelle domestic abuse storyline, and just how dark it may get.

R126, how much darker could it get than the Trevor-Little Mo domestic abuse storyline? He poured gravy over her head...at CHRISTMAS. And she thumped him with an iron.

R127 - that was my favourite Christmas episode! Good times. x

R127 I don't know. You'd have to ask Oates. It's now the storyline she's reportedly pushing further, darker.

Thursday's episode was a chore.

The hair salon material is abysmal.

And irritant Rainie at Chez Beale is past her sell-by date.

At least we got bad Leo and Hunter on a slab.

Move along.