Mystery as EastEnders stars Max Bowden and Danielle...

SOAP stars Max Bowden and Danielle Harold have sparked a mystery after unfollowing each other on social media. The pair have appeared on the latest episode of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the soap. The axed actress, who played Lola Pearce from 2011 to 2024, gushed about her former co-star during the episode aired on February 14. While chatting to sidekick Ishy Khan, former I'm A Celeb star Danielle spoke about her former co-star and best friend and praised: "We're really close, really close.

Image Credit: The Sun [Two people posing with a vintage Volvo.]

"It's nice to do something fun. With EastEnders, our storylines are really heavy and really sad.". Ishy commented on her emotional exit from Walford and said: "It didn’t end on a great note…". She replied: "No, it did not end on a great note at all.". Speaking about Danielle and Max's close bond, Ishy remarked: "You can tell there’s love there.". Harold agreed: "Yeah, there is. He loves me really. He pretends like he don’t, but be does.".

Image Credit: The Sun [Ben Mitchell and Lola Pearce holding hands; Lola is crying.]

Bowden also opened up to antiques guru Hettie Jago and said: "We did some really dark and beautiful storylines together so we've spent a lot of time in each other's pockets, which is why we're so comfortable with each other.". The pair have since unfollowed each other on social media sparking a mystery. A source said: "It's all very strange. Max and Danielle used to be so close - even after they left the show. But to unfollow each other so publicly seems so strange.".

Image Credit: The Sun [Screenshot of Danielle Harold's Instagram profile showing 648K followers and 998 following.]

The Sun has contacted representatives for Max and Danielle for comment. The teaser for the BBC antiques show read: "Former EastEnders stars Danielle Harold and Max Bowden face off in the world of antiquities. "Whilst this pair shared some intense storylines in Albert Square, off screen they are the best of friends. "But that doesn’t stop the rivalry or the bickering as they cruise around the Cotswolds in a 1964 P1800S Volvo.".

Image Credit: The Sun [Screenshot of a search for "danielle" on a social media profile showing two profiles with the name Danielle.]

Her character, young mum Lola Pearce, died from a brain tumour in 2023 and Danielle went on to win a string of awards and critical acclaim for her performance. Since leaving Walford, Danielle has filmed Celebrity Hunted for Channel 4 and appeared in I'm A Celeb. Actor Max, who played Ben Mitchell, was axed from the soap in 2024. The actor was the sixth star to play the role of Ben Mitchell on the long-running BBC serial drama from 2019.