EastEnders legend returns to face defeated and broken Phil

Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) has come face to face with his late mum Peggy (Jaime Winstone) in EastEnders, as his troubling flashbacks and hallucinations began. Over the last week, we’ve seen the Walford hard man shouting into thin air, seemingly engaging in intense conversations with nobody. His family and friends have only just become aware of his spiralling mental health, but still don’t know that he’s suffering psychosis.

Ex-wife Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) found him in the presence of a sex worker, and later witnessed him struggling to bond with their infant son Albie. Seeing him struggle with his injuries sustained from into The Arches’ grease pit after a failed suicide attempt, she ordered him to visit the surgery – and booked an appointment with the doctor on his behalf. Despite his pain medication being upped, the GP refused to give him sleeping tablets and questioned whether he was feeling low.

Phil was furious at the suggestion and stormed out, and in tonight’s episode, failed to show up to Billy and Honey Mitchell’s (Perry Fenwick and Emma Barton) joint stag and hen do. Amid the celebrations, nobody realised that he was absent. Sharon questioned where Billy’s estranged father Stevie (Alan Ford) was, given he’d paid out £10,000 to pay for the ceremony. Mo Harris (Laila Morse) explained that Stevie’s kind gesture was just a fabricated story, and that Phil was actually the benefactor.

This instantly triggered concern, and Sharon realised that in the last few months, he’s either sold or given away all of his financial and business assets. Back at home, Phil saw red after he dropped his painkillers on the floor. He produced a box from under his chair, and began to file through old photos from his youth. Going into the kitchen, he placed a picture of himself, brother Grant (Teddy Jay) and their mum into the sink and set it alight. As the memories burnt away, Peggy’s voice could be heard ringing out from the living room.

Phil charged his way in, and it became apparent that the noise was coming from an old TV, which was playing old family VHS tapes. He launched himself at the screen, smashing it down onto the floor. Here's what EastEnders fans can expect as the soap celebrates its 40th anniversary on 19 February 2025:. Having previously gone live for the 25th and 30th anniversaries in 2010 and 2015, the soap will be beaming live to the nation once again during the 40th week.

This instalment will air one day after the big 4-0, on Thursday February 20. The episode will also mark a huge EastEnders first as bosses are giving the audience the power to vote on the outcome of one storyline, with the actors having to react to the result live on air – speaking of which…. With Denise Fox (Diane Parish) having found herself in a love triangle with Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), fans will decide whether she reunites with her estranged husband Jack or picks her secret lover.

We also know that another 'history making' decision will be left to audiences to decide, with details yet to be announced. ​​Ross Kemp will be reprising his role as the legendary Grant Mitchell to play a significant part in the 40th celebrations. ‘Grant has never been far from the action and let’s just say, this time is no different as he certainly comes back with a bang,’ Ross teased. Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) was left for dead when she was whacked over the head with a shovel by a mystery assailant on Christmas Day after the truth about her affair with former stepson Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) exploded.

With the finger of suspicion currently pointing at numerous characters, Cindy’s attacker will be unmasked at last during the anniversary week. Ahead of the big week, BBC Four will broadcast EastEnders Sings at the BBC, a look back at archive performances from cast members from Top of the Pops. Ross Kemp will take a trip down Walford memory lane with a special hour-long documentary called EastEnders: 40 Years on The Square, taking fans behind the scenes as he delves into the show’s history and relieves some of the most memorable moments.

BBC Three will also offer viewers a look at the explosive anniversary storylines with a 45-minute interview special – EastEnders Revealed: The Lock In – hosted by Joe Swash as he chats to some of the actors who find themselves at the heart of the anniversary drama. As Billy and Honey Mitchell (Perry Fenwick and Emma Barton) prepare to walk down the aisle, their favourite boozer The Queen Victoria will burn to the ground.

Aerial pictures from filming show the pub blown to smithereens, with a car crashed into the side. There's also a marquee in the middle of the Square Gardens - is this from the wedding?. Meanwhile, Sharon, Billy and Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) launched a search effort. Whilst Jay wandered through Albert Square, Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth) got her spare key and they made their way into his house. Billy uttered the famous first ever words spoken on EastEnders: ‘Cor, it stinks in ‘ere, dunnit?’, as the smoke from the pictures filled the air.