EastEnders’ Phil Mitchell legend breaks silence on his ‘life’s work’

Phil Mitchell has been an EastEnders staple since 1990, and now actor Steve McFadden has opened up about playing the role in a rare interview. The character is currently in the middle of a heartbreaking storyline that has seen him struggle with loneliness and depression, as well as psychotic symptoms, for several months. In upcoming scenes, Phil’s psychosis will see him hallucinating figures from his past, as well as becoming an onlooker to a pivotal moment from his adolescence.

‘It felt to me like this was a valid and worthwhile story to tell,’ actor Steve said of the story in an interview with TV Times. ‘I don’t talk about my work very often because I believe that acting is a magical process, and I don’t want to spoil it by deconstructing it too much. ‘What happens is I tried to connect emotionally with a story as much as possible, and I felt like I connected with this one a lot.’.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video. Up Next. 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?. With the show celebrating its 40th anniversary next week, and Steve having been a part of it for 35 years, it is no wonder that he refers to the role of Phil as his ‘life’s work’. However, it wasn’t always intended to be that way, as Steve revealed that Phil and brother Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) were only supposed to be in Albert Square for a short stint.

‘It’s amazing, and I’m very proud [to still be in the show],’ he told the publication. ‘Ross and I were on the screen the week after the fifth anniversary. We’d signed a three month contract, and the producers had an option to keep us for another three months, but within two weeks, the bosses said they wanted to keep us for two years. ‘Amazingly, 35 years later, I’m still here doing these huge storylines. What it means to me is that EastEnders is my life’s work. I didn’t plan it, but it’s what my career became. But I’m very happy that’s how it’s turned out.’.

Steve also revealed how acting hadn’t always been on his radar, but after a trip to see a Shakespeare play, he knew it was what he wanted to do. Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who’s leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale?. Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews.