EastEnders star opens up on 'dark times' as he unveils dramatic new look

EastEnders actor Max Bowden unveiled a fresh appearance, complete with moustache, as he candidly discussed his feelings of exhaustion and depression prior to his departure from the popular BBC soap.

Earlier this year, the actor, 29, exited his role as Ben Mitchell after his character was incarcerated in America for fraud. Before this, he was part of a poignant storyline where Lola, the mother of Ben's daughter Lexi, passed away following a brain tumour diagnosis.

During his guest appearance on Loose Women with panellists Judi Love, Denise Welch, GK Barry, and Charlene White, Max confessed that the storylines hit close to home as his best friend had died from the same type of cancer.

In reference to his friend Max, he shared: "It was very quick. Max was the life and soul of the party and was very successful. On the Friday I sent him a voice note about football and the next day he went into a coma from an undiagnosed brain tumour."

The actor continued: "It was a very dark time for me because I had to process what was going on and from a selfish point of view, when you play a story like that it was weird," reports the Daily Star.

When Judi queried: "There was a moment before you said that towards the end of EastEnders you had a burn out. Was that because you had to re-leave a story that was close to you or just being on a big soap?"

Max responded openly: "I was very tired and I was very depressed honestly because of the nature of what we are doing. It was very intense."

"When you're telling the story of every man and woman, it's important that we do it justice so that you can sometimes burn out and I was at that point so it was the right time."

In another segment of the programme, Max discussed his updated appearance,