EastEnders actor Max Bowden has split from actress Tori Allen‑Martin after a six‑month relationship, British tabloids reported, with sources saying the romance "fizzled out" as the couple moved on to separate projects.
Bowden, 30, and Allen‑Martin — who co‑starred in the stage musical Midnight Cowboy — were described by a source as being "inseparable" during the show's run, but the same source told The Sun that the relationship cooled as each took on new work. The source added that Bowden's forthcoming theatre tour, Murder at Midnight, was among the commitments that made continuing the relationship difficult. MailOnline said it had contacted representatives for both Bowden and Allen‑Martin for comment.
The reported split comes ahead of a short return to the BBC soap for Bowden, who is due to reprise the role of Ben Mitchell. According to reports in The Sun, the character will be temporarily released from prison to attend a funeral, marking his first appearance on Albert Square since Bowden's exit in 2023. The Sun also reported that the guest stint could pave the way for a longer return, saying new EastEnders executive producer Ben Wadey had a list of characters he wanted to bring back that included Ben Mitchell.
Bowden had played Ben Mitchell for four years before his contract was not renewed in 2023. Tabloid reports at the time said the decision followed warnings from producers and a disciplinary conversation about his behaviour off set, and a television source quoted by the Daily Mail said executives had been concerned that a "partying lifestyle" away from work could become a distraction. At the time, a source said Bowden was "ready to move on" and was focusing on new projects.
Tori Allen‑Martin is best known to television audiences for her role as Cherry in the BBC sitcom Here We Go, where she appears alongside Alison Steadman and Katherine Parkinson. Both actors have continued to work in theatre and television since their reported relationship began.
The reports of Bowden's return and the end of his relationship come amid heightened scrutiny of conduct among soap performers. Earlier this year, veteran EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick was dismissed from the show following a suspension after a video emerged of him using a derogatory term during rehearsals for Strictly Come Dancing. BBC Studios confirmed Borthwick "will not be returning to EastEnders" and did not comment on individual matters. At the time, the BBC said the language was "entirely unacceptable" and said it had robust processes in place.
Representatives for Bowden, Allen‑Martin and EastEnders did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to MailOnline.