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Yesterday, a tabloid newspaper revealed that Ben - played by Joshua Pascoe - will share a kiss with a teenager named Duncan after he makes his return to Albert Square later this year.
Although Ben is expected to try to keep his sexuality a secret from his dad Phil (Steve McFadden), the truth has been tipped to come out "sooner or later".
Speaking to The Guardian about the storyline, Kirkwood commented: "For EastEnders viewers, it was never a question of if, but more like when Ben Mitchell was going to come out as gay. The Mitchells represent the spirit of EastEnders - tough, loyal and uncompromising.
"To see a man like Phil learn to deal with, and ultimately accept, his gay son, is a valid story for a drama like EastEnders to embark on."
Ben and Duncan's kissing scene is understood to have been filmed earlier this week.
> Read more EastEnders spoilers and news
> Read our recent interview with EastEnders' executive producer Bryan Kirkwood
Watch some of Ben Mitchell's EastEnders best bits in the video below:
