Is Billy Mitchell returning to EastEnders?
Phil Mitchell #PhilMitchell
Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) has been part of EastEnders for as long as many of us can remember.
In fact, he’s appeared in more than 2,000 episodes.
But since he left the square in February to take a new job thanks to Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), we haven’t had so much as a peep from Billy.
He agonised over his decision to leave Walford, given that beloved granddaughter and apple of his eye Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) was poorly.
With Lola’s health deteriorating, and her terminal diagnosis due to a brain tumour, will her adored ‘Pops’, Billy, return to Albert Square?
Here’s what we know.
Will Billy be back?
There’s good news for Billy Mitchell fans – he will return to EastEnders.
Show bosses say he will return in the week commencing April 24.
The BBC says: ‘Billy has to face devastating news on his return to Walford.’
He’s been a familiar face on the show since November 1998.
Why did Billy leave EastEnders?
Billy was very nearly sent down for murder after DCI Keeble (Alison Newman) had him fitted up for a crime he didn’t commit, all so that she could avenge the death of her father.
He became the subject of Keeble’s hate-campaign against the Mitchell clan, after her dad died as a result of the family’s involvement in a crime in the late seventies.
A special flashback episode revealed that Mitchell patriarch Eric was the one who killed the man in question.
Keeble also kidnapped Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Tommy (Sonny Kendall) – but Billy’s cousin Phil came to their rescue.
Phil felt guilty about what Billy had gone through.
Seeing his cousin struggle financially after the court case, Phil arranged a job for Billy away from Walford – but at first his pride and Lola’s illness stopped him from accepting it.
Realising he could use the money to help Lola, Billy took the job and left Albert Square.
But when Lola discovered she only had six months to live, she made everyone promise not to tell Billy, as she wanted to do that in person.
Now he’s coming back, and it’s going to be heartbreaking for him.
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