Billy Mitchell (EastEnders)

Billy Mitchell
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Perry Fenwick
Introduced by	Matthew Robinson
Duration	1998—
First appearance	2 November 1998
Classification	Present; regular
Spin-off appearances	EastEnders: E20 (2010)
Profile
Date of birth	1 May 1959
Occupation	Personal assistant (since 2011) Market trader (fruit and veg; until 2011) Barman Club owner Video shop manager
Family Family Mitchell Wife Little Mo Morgan (2002–06) Honey Edwards (2006–11) Father Steven Mitchell Mother Janet Mitchell Brothers Charlie Mitchell Sons Dan Pearce William Mitchell Daughters Janet Mitchell Adoptive sons Jay Brown (foster) Granddaughters Lola Pearce Nephews Jamie Mitchell Other relatives Phil Mitchell Grant Mitchell Sam Mitchell Ronnie Mitchell Roxy Mitchell Archie Mitchell

William "Billy" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Perry Fenwick, who made his first appearance on 2 November 1998. Billy was seen when Phil went to visit his godson Jamie. However, he didn't arrive in the Square until 2 August 1999, almost a year after his initial appearance. Fenwick filmed his 1000th episode on 6 August 2010.

Storylines

Backstory

Billy's parents left him in a children's home, where he was physically abused by the staff. He got a chance to face one of his abusers, Ernie Johnson (John Junkin), then a pensioner, in 2002. When his brother and sister-in-law died, Billy became guardian of their son Jamie (Jack Ryder), and vented his anger on him. When Billy's distant cousin Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) realised what was happening, he took Jamie in and Billy learnt from his mistakes.

1998—

Billy moves to Walford, initially getting involved in criminal scams with Phil and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp). Billy's cousins see him as little more than a lackey, and he is frequently told that he is an embarrassment to the Mitchell name. Billy finds an ally in Steve Owen (Martin Kemp), who uses Billy as an errand boy in numerous criminal activities including drug-dealing, to antagonise the Mitchell brothers. Billy works at Steve's club, E20, and is given a 1% share of the club for his services, but is often torn between his loyalties to Steve and his family.

Billy falls for Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) in 2001, but she is only interested in his money, and when that runs out, she leaves him. Nevertheless, Billy helps her get over some psychological problems later that year, leading her to hope for a reconciliation, but Billy turns her down as he has fallen for Little Mo Morgan (Kacey Ainsworth), his business partner in a cleaning company. Mo is being abused by her husband, Trevor (Alex Ferns), and it is not until Mo leaves him that Billy and Mo start a relationship. Billy proposes to Mo by spelling out 'MARRY ME' on her plate with alphabet spaghetti, and the pair get engaged. When Trevor discovers this, he kidnaps Mo, but is killed the same night in a gas explosion. Billy and Mo marry on Christmas Day 2002, the same day that Jamie dies of severe injuries after being knocked down by a car. Eleven months after their wedding, Little Mo is raped by Graham Foster (Alex McSweeney). Mo later discovers she is pregnant as a result of the assault. Billy presses her to have an abortion, but Mo refuses. She leaves Walford to clear her head, and comes home with baby Freddie in tow, to see Graham convicted of rape. Billy and Little Mo reunite, but Billy confesses that he can't love Freddie as his own, and thinks of Graham whenever he sees him. Billy and Mo separate, but remain friends until Billy discovers Mo's relationship with Alfie Moon (Shane Richie).

In 2002, ownership of E20 passes to Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean). Billy (who still holds his 1% ownership of the club) continues to work there, but when Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) returns in September 2003, he manages the club and his feud with the Mitchells leads to Billy and Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) being sacked. Sam coerces Billy to burn down the club in revenge. Billy does so, not realising that Vicki Fowler (Scarlett Johnson) is inside. Billy rescues her but an explosion engulfs the club and it has to be closed down. Suspecting foul play, the insurance company refuses to pay out, which nearly leads to Sharon selling the club to Sam. However, Den returns from a holiday in Spain with the necessary funds and the Watts keep the club, buying the remaining 1% from Billy in the process.

Billy starts a relationship with newcomer Honey Edwards (Emma Barton) in November 2005, whom he manages during her spell as a model. The relationship prospers, despite initial disapproval from Honey's father Jack (Nicky Henson), who takes time to accept Billy. Billy finds out that Honey is pregnant in January 2006, and is thrilled that he is becoming a father. He proposes and she accepts. In June 2006, Billy and Honey are due to marry, but have to postpone the wedding when Honey is hospitalised; they re-schedule it for July, but this goes wrong due to a practical joke played on Billy during his stag night. Billy's aunt Peggy (Barbara Windsor) then arranges a surprise wedding for him and Honey in September. The couple just complete their vows when Honey goes into labour. She delivers a girl, Janet, but the Mitchells are devastated to discover she has Down's syndrome. Honey rejects the baby; she goes into depression, contemplates infanticide, and demands that Janet be put up for adoption. Billy is opposed to this, but eventually consents after agonising over the decision. On the day Janet is taken into foster care, she suffers a health scare and is hospitalised. Billy goes to care for her, and have her baptised in case she does not survive. Honey wrestles with her conscience and eventually decides she can love her baby so she and Billy bring Janet home.

Honey discovers she is pregnant again, and William is born in November 2007. His birth is traumatic, as Honey has been assaulted by a gang that Jase Dyer (Stephen Lord) once belonged to. The baby seems to be stillborn at first, but is resuscitated by medics. Billy blames Jase for the ordeal. They have not got along since Jase's arrival, as Billy believes Jase is attracted to Honey. In December 2007, Billy and Honey suffer monetary problems, and their new landlady, Manju Patel (Leena Dhingra), decides to evict them. Billy tries to prevent this, by stealing charity money to pay the rent and barricading them in, but they are evicted at Christmas, and forced to rely on the kindness of friends and relatives until the council rehouses them. Billy becomes desperate for money and takes on a job as a getaway driver for Jase, believing they are going to steal money from Terry Bates (Nicholas Ball), who hurt Honey in the past. The job is a set-up, and Terry takes Jase's son Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) hostage in their absence. With Billy's help, Jay escapes, but Jase is killed by Terry in the fight that ensued. Billy hides in the bathroom, too afraid to help Jase in his moment of need. Not realising this, Jay hails Billy as a hero for trying to rescue his dad. Billy breaks down and confesses his cowardice to Honey and that he has kept some of Jase's money, allegedly to give to now orphaned Jay. Honey is incensed; she threatens to leave Billy, but gives him one last chance on the condition he never lies to her again. Billy does lie and keeps back some of the money after telling Honey he has donated it to charity. Honey decides to end their marriage and takes her children to live with her father, leaving Billy alone and depressed.

In October 2008, Billy visits Jay at his foster home, and offers to look after him as he has no one else. Jay accepts and moves in with Billy. They overcome various problems; however, in May 2009, Nick Cotton (John Altman) begins blackmailing Billy, threatening to tell Jay the truth about his cowardice on the night of Jase's death. Desperate for money, Billy turns to Phil, who abducts Nick, beats him and orders Billy to kill him. Billy cannot go through with it, and lets Nick go. In the wake of this, Billy finally tells Jay the truth, and Jay reacts in fury. Terry's gang try to intimidate Billy away from the witness stand in the upcoming trial, eventually resorting to holding Jay hostage. The police release Jay, and Billy testifies, which results in Terry receiving life imprisonment for murder, while Billy partially redeems himself in the eyes of Jay. In November 2009, Billy is forced to move out of The Queen Victoria, and he and Jay live with Peggy's estranged husband, Archie (Larry Lamb). Billy then works for Archie, until he is murdered, and Roxy (Rita Simons) (Archie's younger daughter) inherits the majority of Archie's estate, including his businesses, and the house Billy lives in. Roxy then refuses to let Billy work for her, and massively increases his rent.

Desperate for money, Billy starts stealing post, even though he knows that the postman, Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra), is in trouble over the missing mail. Billy is kicked out of home again, so he and Jay move in with Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison). Billy continues to steal post for money, and in one parcel, he finds drugs. He considers going into the R&R nightclub (the new name for the E20 club) to sell them, but changes his mind. He is then contacted by a police officer, who tells him that Honey and Jack have been involved in a car accident: Jack is dead, and Honey is in a critical condition. Billy struggles to tell his children this, and after finding Janet holding the stolen parcel of drugs, he leaves her and William with Phil. He also loses his job on Ian's stall. With few alternatives, Billy accepts cash from his relative, Ronnie (Samantha Womack), to start a fire at the R&R nightclub (which she now owns) as part of an insurance scam. After the fire, Ronnie finds out that the insurance company may not pay out, and threatens to implicate Billy. However, after Ronnie sees Janet, she tears up the insurance claim form. Honey is subsequently discharged from hospital, and Dot Branning (June Brown) convinces Ian to give Billy his job back at the stall. Billy tells Heather that he has agreed to pay Honey extra maintenance for a while, and will find another job. Billy then ponders over the parcel of drugs he still has. When his home with Heather is repossessed, Peggy invites him and Jay back to The Queen Victoria. He decides to help Peggy by locating Phil, who has become addicted to crack cocaine. He assists his family in forcibly barricading Phil in the upstairs living room of the pub. Worried he will die, Phil convinces Billy to open the door to bring him some water, promising he will not try to leave. Phil barges past Billy and subsequently sets the pub on fire. With the Queen Vic burnt out, Billy and Jay move in to Roxy's house.

Billy works at Jack Branning's (Scott Maslen) club R&R where he stops a man from pestering Jean Slater (Gillian Wright), however Jack sacks him because he caused a scene. Jean brands Billy a hero and invites him back for tea where they kiss and spend the night together. The next day Billy tells Jay he slept with a younger woman, but Darren Miller (Charlie G. Hawkins) says he saw him leaving the Slaters', so Jay realises he slept with Jean. Billy says she was all over him and insults her as Jean and her daughter Stacey (Lacey Turner) walk in, leaving Jean upset. The next day, he apologises to Jean, who says decent men do not talk like that, but she is fine because it was just a casual fling. Billy receives a letter from the police about the care home he stayed in, as one of the carers is being investigated. He tells Phil about it, who tears up the letter. The next day, Jay receives a phonecall for Billy and asks what it was about. Billy lies that it was about money, so Jay steals two drills from Greg Jessop (Stefan Booth), leaving Billy angry when he finds them. Phil tells Jay the letter was about Billy's past, so Jay asks Billy about it, calling him pathetic and a coward for not facing up to his past, so Billy punches Jay in the stomach, but is immediately apologetic. Jay returns the phonecall, pretending to be Billy, and a police officer visits. He asks about a man called Henry Mason (Brian Hibbard), saying there is an allegation that he got one of the girls in the home pregnant. Billy says it was Julie Perkins (Cathy Murphy) but gets angry and refuses to say any more. Julie later visits, due to Jay posing as Billy on a social networking website and contacting her. Billy and Julie talk about their shared past, and Julie reveals that she got pregnant, not by Mason but Billy, and tells him he has a grown-up son. Billy is upset that his son never knew his parents and tells Julie she should never have told him, so she leaves. Billy gets drunk at R&R, where he kisses a recently bereaved Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson), and offers to buy Jean a drink. He causes arguments with Carol, her daughter Bianca (Patsy Palmer), Stacey and Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace), mistakenly punches a policeman and is arrested. After suffering a panic attack in the police cell, he is released without charge the next morning and calls Julie.

Billy invites Julie to attend Ronnie and Jack's wedding as Billy's guest and is accused of stealing money from Roxy. She later reveals to Billy that she is wearing an electronic tag and is under curfew as she is staying in a hostel. Billy says this does not matter to him. Billy finds out that Phil and Shirley stole the cash and inadvertently reveals it to Glenda Mitchell (Glynis Barber). Phil, who has moved house using the cash, wants to kick Billy out but allows him to stay when Billy pleads, saying he has saved Phil's life and never complains when his family take advantage. When Julie asks to store some things around Billy's house, he discovers some photos of a man. Thinking Julie is in a relationship, he confronts her, but she explains that they are pictures of their son, Roger Green (Daniel Brocklebank). Billy finds his address in Julie's belongings and goes to visit him. Once at the house, Billy announces that he is his father. Roger denies this, and Julie turns up and pulls Billy away. She explains that she could not trace their real son, so fantasised that Roger, her former boss, was their son instead. Billy is then happy to learn that Jay has decided to change his last name to Mitchell, but soon realises it is to impress Phil, not him. Billy forgives Julie, but informs her that he has contacted an adoption agency about their son. Billy and Julie then start a proper romantic relationship as a couple. Billy then attempts to find his real son and finds out his name is Dan Pearce but is devastated to find out he died of liver failure. Billy and Julie discover they have a granddaughter, Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold), who is in care. Billy and Julie visit her, and Billy bonds with her but Julie feels Lola is trouble and not their problem, so calls the police to have Lola taken back into care, while Billy sees her as a true Mitchell.

Lola causes problems, such as starting a fire, and Billy defends her, while Julie argues with Billy as she wants Lola to be disciplined. A social worker allows Lola to stay, pending paperwork, but as they are squatting, Julie worries that they will not be able to prove they have a tenancy agreement. However, Phil helps them to get one. Billy continues to take Lola's side, and Julie is unable to cope, so she decides to leave Billy. Billy and Lola struggle for money until Billy is employed by Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) at her property maintenance firm. Billy is angry when Lola continues to skip school and announces that she is pregnant. She refuses to name the father, though Billy makes incorrect assumptions, and Lola tells Billy she wants him to help raise the child. When Phil gets Billy to help him bury a collection of stolen goods in the allotments, the police soon arrest Billy after they discover the goods with his fingerprints on. When Lola has a visit from social services but does not turn up, Billy asks Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) to take her place. Abi impresses the social worker after Billy accidentally reveals that Lola is pregnant, but when Lola turns up, the lie is revealed and the social worker says that they may not be able to have custody of the child.

Other appearances

Billy appears in series 2 of the spin-off series EastEnders: E20. In episode 1, he is working on his stall when Olly Manthrope-Hall (Joshua McGuire) knocks over his oranges, and helps Stevie Dickinson (Amanda Fairbank-Hynes) pick up her things. He witnesses a fight and calls the police after his stock is knocked over again, this time by Naz Mehmet (Emaa Hussen). In episode 7 he witnesses a fight between Asher Levi (Heshima Thompson) and his brother Sol (Tosin Cole) in front of his stall.

Creation

The character Billy Mitchell was introduced by producer Matthew Robinson as a guest character in November 1998, used as part of a storyline to introduce Billy's nephew, Jamie, (Jack Ryder) to the regular cast. In the storyline, Billy was caught being abusive to Jamie and he was subsequently taken in by Billy's cousin Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden). The character was only intended to appear for four episodes; however, Perry Fenwick revealed in 2006 that the role was extended by "coincidence and chance": "I was offered four episodes and here I am, about 800 later. [...] Ross Kemp (Grant) said that he was leaving, and there was a gap in the Mitchell family, so they brought me back to do stuff towards his leaving. After that they offered me a year." Billy was reintroduced in 1999, making recurring appearances. He was involved in the leaving storyline of Grant Mitchell in October 1999, before returning later in the year as a regular character.

Development

Personality

When Billy was first introduced, he was depicted as a "runt of a man who's a catalyst for trouble." Kate Lock, author of EastEnders Who's Who, has noted that the character was something of an outcast to the rest of the Mitchell clan, commenting, "none of the other Mitchells likes to think of him as 'family' [..] Billy is held in great contempt by the Mitchell [brothers], who regard him as a lower lifeform than a worm".

It has been noted that when Billy was first introduced, he was a "nasty piece of work". However, Billy underwent a personality change circa 2002 and "became good". It was revealed that Bill's nasty streak was a result of him having been abused and bullied while growing up in a children's home. From then on, Billy was depicted as "clownish and a bit of a loser [...] a born romantic with a kind nature and a big heart". According to actor Perry Fenwick, it is doubtful that he would have continued with the role if Billy had not "mended his wicked ways". Billy was involved in an abuse storyline with his nephew Jamie (Jack Ryder), causing the actor to be "harangued" by strangers in public. In 2006, he commented, "I wouldn't have wanted to stay if Billy had been the way he was at the start. I didn't want to be another Nick Cotton, an out and out baddie, because it leaves you nowhere to go. You need to be a rounded character to fit in with the others. Then you can be a bit naughty, funny sometimes, in love sometimes — it all opens out. I'm proud of the way he's changed. I didn't like doing that nasty stuff. I needed and wanted the job, but I knew what would come with it — you can't go anywhere on this show without people telling you what they think."

Fenwick particularly likes the comedic side to the character. He has said, "I just ask them to keep it light and shade. I LOVE the comedy side of Billy but there's a sad side to him, too. He's like a little lost soul who is always beaten up and knocked down but he never gives up. He reminds me of Norman Wisdom."

Relationships

Honey Edwards and Down's syndrome

The character Honey Edwards (Emma Barton) was introduced in November 2005 by the executive producer Kate Harwood, as a love interest for Billy. A relationship between Honey and Billy was quickly developed and, within two months, an upcoming baby had been written into the characters' narratives, with Honey announcing she was pregnant in January 2006. A BBC insider told The Sun, "Billy is absolutely chuffed to bits".

The pregnancy was the start of an on-going storyline about Down's syndrome (DS) as, in September 2006, Honey and Billy's baby Janet was diagnosed with the disorder shortly after her birth. EastEnders' producers began to work on the DS plot in February 2006. Real parents with Down's children were approached to act as consultants in the making of the storyline, meeting with writers and the actors who play Billy and Honey. On-screen, Honey was shown to be devastated, rejecting her baby and wanting to have her adopted, while Billy wanted to keep his daughter, placing strain on the couple, who married in the serial the day of Janet's birth.

The Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) worked with EastEnders on the storyline. Their medical advisers were consulted about possible health problems that Billy and Honey's baby might encounter. According to the DSA in 2006, people with DS are under-represented on mainstream television and EastEnders helped to redress that imbalance. The DSA used their influence to change certain elements of the scripts that they were unhappy with, such as persuading them to change the way Billy and Honey were told of their baby's diagnosis; however, they had no influence over the characters' reactions or the plot in general. For the first two weeks after Janet's diagnosis, the DSA provided a helpline for worried parents or anyone wanting advice about DS. EastEnders also provided a link to the DSA website from theirs, to ensure that people looking for information could find the association.

The storyline was developed with characterisation in mind. Some characters, such as Peggy Mitchell, were shown to respond negatively towards the baby, views that were included so that the positive aspects could be voiced by the "more enlightened characters". The programme makers' main priority was to show the reality of having a child with the condition, "with all of its positives and negatives" and to "create awareness among thousands of people who know very little about Down's syndrome, who might have out-dated or prejudiced views." EastEnders took advice from DS organisations and families of DS people throughout. Care was taken to ensure that viewers empathised with Billy and Honey, to portray their journey in a "realistic way".

Billy and Honey holding their daughter Janet.

The DSA have expressed their desire to see a character with Down's syndrome becoming a permanent member of the EastEnders cast, as in their opinion "it would be a fantastic opportunity to bring Down's syndrome into mainstream awareness, and to present a 21st century picture of family life for those who have children with the condition." In 2006, EastEnders pledged that they intended for Billy and Honey's baby to grow up as any other baby would in the soap; however, it has been noted that the plot is dependent on the actors involved, and other practical problems that could arise. EastEnders pledged to make every effort to portray "a positive image of a family who have a baby with the condition."

The episodes received criticism for inaccuracy. Sue Jacob, a teacher at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said EastEnders presented a "poor picture of midwifery practice". During Janet's birth, Honey was refused an epidural while in pain, and later she was told that her baby had Down's syndrome alone, without her partner or family there to support her. Jacob commented, "Women are vulnerable after giving birth and they need support systems in place [...] The person caring for her is repeatedly referred to as a nurse in the episode but there is no way that a nurse would be in charge after birth. The midwife would also have been open and honest and said 'We need to get the baby checked out and we will get your partner' [...] What the soaps do is set scenes which prompt people to talk about things which are affecting their lives. We are concerned people will wrongly think this Down's syndrome story shows what really happens, and that if you have a problem there is no one there to support you. Showing something like this is not helpful." Furthermore, Jacob noted that Honey was left alone for a long time to worry about the baby, which appeared rigid, and not floppy, as Down's babies do. In Jacob's opinion, a midwife would have been repeatedly in and out of the room to check on the mother. Additionally, one episode showed a health visitor reprimanding Honey for refusing Down's syndrome screening and Karen Reay, director of the Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association called the episode "insensitive and patronising". She added that the episode contained "glaring anomalies", giving new mothers a "fictitious and misleading" view of health visitors, which could "damage relationships with health professionals".

The BBC responded by saying, "EastEnders has undertaken a great deal of research to script the storyline of Billy and Honey giving birth to their baby daughter. EastEnders takes enormous care with its research and takes advice from experts in the given field. In addition, for this particular storyline EastEnders talked to numerous families with children who have Down's Syndrome. Some of their experiences were depicted in these early episodes. Also closely involved was a senior midwife from a large UK general hospital who saw all scripts. In relation to some particular points raised, Honey was not denied an epidural - she made the choice to put herself out of reach of communicating effectively with the midwife by locking herself in the bathroom. When the news was broken to Honey and Billy that their baby had Down's Syndrome, EastEnders has in fact drawn directly from one particular true-life story - and while this may indeed not be best practice it is worth saying that good drama does not necessarily come from best practice." Despite the BBC's "extensive search" to cast a real Down's baby for the birth episodes, they were unable to do so, resulting in the shots of the newborn baby being less authentic and limited. The BBC added, "In the coming weeks Honey and Billy's child will be played by a baby with Down's Syndrome. It is worth noting that EastEnders has received incredibly positive feedback from the Down's Syndrome Association following the first few episodes, whom we are continuing to work with very closely." Carol Boys, chief executive of the Down's Syndrome Association, has confrimed that 40% of parents whose babies were diagnosed after birth were given no written or practical information about the condition, and 11% were told, as Honey was, by a midwife rather than a paediatrician: "The way in which Billy and Honey have learnt of their baby's disability, and their subsequent support from their health professionals, is not a best-practice model. However, neither is it an unrealistic situation. BBC researchers and scriptwriters have based the scenes on conversations with families who have children with Down's Syndrome, and the scenes have struck a chord with thousands of our parent members across the country. Some health professionals hold outdated or prejudiced views about people with Down's Syndrome that prevent them from giving parents a balanced picture of what the future will hold for them."

Julie Perkins

In 2010, storylines show Billy receiving a letter from the care home he stayed in as a child, and a character from his past, Julie Perkins (Cathy Murphy) arrives in the series. Julie turns Billy's life upside-down and forces him to face some shocking home truths. The storyline was introduced as executive producer Bryan Kirkwood, who took on the role earlier in 2010, wanted Billy to have a storyline that was not connected to existing characters. Fenwick said the storyline was an acting challenge with plenty of twists and turns, and said "it's given me the chance to let go and be a little bit nutty."

In June 2011, it was announced that Danielle Harold had joined the cast, playing Julie and Billy's 15-year-old granddaughter Lola Pearce. It was reported that Billy and Julie would be shocked to learn of Lola's existence, not knowing the son they once gave up for adoption had a daughter, but would decide to track her down and find her living in a care home.

Other storylines

In November 2011, Billy is selected to be a torch bearer for the 2012 Summer Olympics. In reality, Fenwick will carry the torch through the setting of Albert Square, with live footage to be shown in the episode on 23 July 2012. London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe said: "The announcement is a great addition to the Olympic Torch Relay Route. I'm sure the people of Walford will now start planning their celebrations. Along with people right round the UK, the residents of Albert Square will be getting involved to make this their moment to shine." Fenwick said, "When we first discussed the storyline, my initial thought was that I'll now have to get fit. While this may be a fictional one-off for Billy, it's a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and I am thrilled that Walford and Albert Square will be part of this amazing event."

Reception

Billy has been described by Nicola Methven, TV editor of The Mirror, as one of EastEnders' most popular characters. According to actor Perry Fenwick, Billy was initially unpopular with a proportion of viewers for his abusive antics on-screen. In 2006, Fenwick commented, "In the beginning it was all old ladies having a go at me, and young girls who fancied Jack Ryder". However, when the character's personality altered, the reception to his character improved. Fenwick adds, " Now it's great - people really like Billy and shout out: "All right, Billy boy, how's it going?". According to Methven, "The turning point for Billy's popularity came when viewers learned his nasty streak was a result of him having been abused and bullied while growing up in a children's home"

In popular culture

The character of Billy Mitchell has been spoofed in the cartoon sketch show 2DTV.

See also

• List of EastEnders: E20 characters

External links

• Billy Mitchell at BBC Online
• Billy Mitchell at What's On TV