MORE heartbreaking events are in store for Ben Mitchell as he will be involved in a male rape storyline.
However, EastEnders viewers are fuming as they believe soap bosses have turned to Weatherfield for inspiration.
Soap bosses have confirmed the long-running BBC One show will be tackling male rape with Max Bowden's Ben Mitchell.
The character is set to suffer from a vile attack from bartender Lewis Butler, whom he has befriended in recent weeks.
EastEnders is working with charities including Survivors UK, Survivors Manchester and the Male Survivors Partnership.
The harrowing storyline was confirmed by the broadcaster's head of continuing drama Kate Oates and is meant to raise awareness around male rape.
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While the story will be a first in the history of Albert Square, soap fans remember that it won't be the first and only time the issue has been addressed on the screens.
Digital Spy forum members have complained that the storyline is too reminiscent of another iconic UK show, Coronation Street.
One user penned: "I don’t know what I’m angrier about. The fact the storyline is a ploy to make us feel sorry for human trafficker, murder & all round narcissist Ben Mitchell or fact Kate Oates keeps getting away with same storylines every soap she goes to."
Another added: "For goodness sake wishes these writers would come up with something more original, this has been done before in Corrie??!!"
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A third viewer chimed in: "Copying Corrie again. Can’t they write their own storylines?"
Meanwhile, more soap viewers are concerned that bosses would choose Ben's character for the storyline.
"I'm very concerned that it's an attempt to whitewash his own disgusting, criminal behaviour", another forum member commented.
Another viewer believes it to be "poor judgement on behalf of the production team to select the character of Ben to pull the EastEnders audience into the story and the issues surrounding it."
Male rape was covered on the cobbles, when David Platt (played by long-term Corrie actor Jack P. Shepherd) was taken advantage of by Josh Tucker.
Ironically, Coronation Street bosses also worked closely with Survivors Manchester for the storyline.
The character was drugged and assaulted in scenes aired on March 16, 2018, after a drunken night.
David finally opened up about his rape two months after the ordeal, following Aidan Connor's suicide, and almost resorted to his old vengeful tactics to get peace.
When Josh was left blind for life after an attack perpetrated by another man he had planned to rape, David took him away, driving him to an alley and telling him they were outside the police station.
He told the personal trainer to confess but, instead, Josh broke down and told him he wouldn't survive in prison.
Josh's fear was enough for David to get the closure he needed.
However, both men crossed paths again in prison, in October, 2019, when Josh was stabbed and left in a coma.
Josh was eventually sentenced to fifteen years in prison after he was found guilty of raping David and another man.
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But how will EastEnders tackle male rape, four years after rival soap Corrie?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday on BBC One.
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