Sharp-eyed EastEnders viewers were quick to highlight a major error in a recent episode involving the divorce papers Callum Highway received from Ben Mitchell this week.
EastEnders viewers have called out what they described as an “embarrassing” slip that only the most attentive fans would have noticed. The mistake appeared in the divorce documents Callum Highway received in a recent episode.
In Wednesday’s instalment (18 February), Callum, played by Tony Clay, was handed divorce papers from his imprisoned husband Ben Mitchell, portrayed by Max Bowden, after the officer developed feelings for someone else. However, fans were quick to spot an issue with the paperwork.
The document instructed Callum to “reply to the email address provided by his wife,” sparking criticism from viewers — as Callum is gay and was married to a man.
One viewer took to X and wrote: “Your wife? WIFE?” alongside a screenshot of the divorce letter, while another branded the oversight “so embarrassing” that it made it to air.
Callum and Ben were once considered one of the show’s most popular couples, but their romance has unravelled in recent months. The two first crossed paths in 2019 when Callum was still in a relationship with Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty).
They became increasingly close after Ben recognised that Callum was attracted to men. Although Callum initially asked Whitney to marry him, he ultimately went on to wed Ben in 2021.
However, when Ben was sent to prison, their marriage began to crumble, and Callum developed feelings for his friend Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff). The pair embarked on an affair, and when Ben briefly returned to the soap following the death of Callum’s father, he discovered the truth and decided he wanted a divorce.
Speaking to Digital Spy in 2019, Tony Clay said: “Callum might not be someone Ben can simply play with – there’s something genuine there.” The storyline was part of efforts to broaden EastEnders with more LGBTQIA+ representation.
The programme has previously explored LGBTQIA+ narratives, including a memorable plot in which Syed Masood (Marc Elliott) was preparing to marry a woman before his boyfriend Christian Clarke (John Partridge) dramatically interrupted the ceremony to confess his love.
In more recent years, the soap has continued to highlight LGBTQIA+ stories through Eve Unwin (Heather Peace) and Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal). Eve was introduced as a former solicitor who had married Stacey Slater while they were both in prison. After arriving in Albert Square, she initially clashed with Suki, but their rivalry eventually developed into romance.
The couple tied the knot in a dramatic New Year’s Day episode at the beginning of 2025, during which Suki’s ex-husband Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) made a shock return and attempted to kill her.
More recently still, the show brought back bisexual character Oscar Branning (Pierre Moullier). He is expected to begin a relationship with the brother of his ex-girlfriend Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) once he arrives in Walford.
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