Phil’s misery deepens amid lukewarm reaction to relative’s return in EastEnders
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Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) gives his friends and family more cause for concern in EastEnders next week, as his loneliness storyline deepens. The Walford icon has become increasingly isolated in recent months – something that has only worsened since his ex-wife Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and long-lost cousin Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian) went public with their relationship.
![[The Mitchells gather in the Vic to celebrate Phil's birthday]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/501464-b53b.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Hope arrived in the form of his estranged childhood friend Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley), who made a surprise return to Walford before Christmas and has been staying with Phil ever since. However, Phil’s low mood and social anxiety has continued to plague him.
![[EastEnders picture shows Phil listening intently]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_232819204-9c72.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video. Up Next. Next week, Phil is Phil is uninterested when son-in-law Callum Highway (Tony Clay) returns from the States having been visiting his husband and Phil’s son Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) in prison there.
His reaction flagging as unusual, Callum and Nigel then join forces to arrange a belated birthday party for Phil in The Vic. Nigel is later forced to backtrack on the plans when it becomes clear Phil wants a quiet night in, and Nigel breaks the news to a disappointed Sharon and the rest of the Mitchell clan who have gathered for the celebrations.
