EastEnders has long delivered compelling, emotional storylines, but its recent handling of the Callum Highway and Johnny Carter affair has left fans frustrated and disappointed. The shock isn’t just that Callum strayed — it’s how unconvincing and out of character this betrayal feels for a man once so steadfastly loyal to his husband, Ben Mitchell.

For years, Callum was the reliable rock in the tumultuous lives of the Mitchells and Highways, famously standing by Ben even when the latter was behind bars for fraud in America. Despite Ben’s attempts to push Callum away, the couple—known affectionately as “Ballum”—held firm. Yet now, that bond has been shattered by a sudden, barely-explored fling with Johnny Carter, another fan-favorite character.

What makes the affair especially jarring is the lack of build-up. Callum’s first kiss with Johnny seemed to spring from nowhere, framed by a throwaway line about Ben losing phone privileges in prison after causing trouble. This flimsy excuse paints Ben as the catalyst for Callum’s infidelity, but it rings hollow when we consider Callum’s previously steady character and resilience.

The storyline misses a critical opportunity to explore Callum’s inner turmoil. Previously teased subplots—like his unaddressed PTSD and his police career—have been sidelined, leaving viewers with no clear insight into why Callum would so easily turn to another man, especially one as complicated and troubled as Johnny. Instead, we watch Callum chase Johnny with a desperation and recklessness that feels like a jarring personality transplant.

Blaming Ben’s fragile mental health only deepens the problem. It makes Callum’s betrayal look less like a complex emotional struggle and more like an excuse to justify a shocking plot twist. The loneliness Callum expresses while caring for his daughter Lexi could have provided fertile ground for meaningful character development, but it’s treated superficially, only hinted at in a few brief speeches.

Johnny, meanwhile, has become little more than a plot device. Aside from his ongoing struggles with his mother Linda’s alcoholism and the fallout from a murder cover-up, Johnny has had few moments to shine as a character. His involvement with Callum feels less like a natural story arc and more like an awkward way to keep him relevant in a show teeming with characters.

With the inevitable return of Ben looming—and Phil Mitchell’s wrath about to ignite the next wave of drama—the show faces a critical crossroads. Can Callum and Ben’s fractured relationship be salvaged in a way that feels genuine? For viewers, it’s not enough for Callum to simply declare his love for Ben; there needs to be real remorse and introspection, qualities that have been notably absent so far.

Ben’s comeback, whenever it happens, should focus first on his perspective—his feelings about his own life and Callum’s betrayal. Only then can the story truly reckon with the fallout and rebuild the emotional core that made the “Ballum” couple beloved in the first place.

And Johnny deserves better too. Rather than flitting between the Queen Vic and brief legal scenes, he needs a richer, fuller storyline—one that allows audiences to understand his motivations, challenges, and growth.

Ultimately, EastEnders made the right call by not hiding this affair in the shadows, but the execution so far has left many baffled. The next chapters must focus on authentic character development and emotional depth—before Callum’s reputation, and the viewers’ trust, are lost for good.