EastEnders airs moving exit scenes for Grant Mitchell in powerful early iPlayer release

In the recent episode of EastEnders, Ross Kemp’s character, Grant Mitchell, bid farewell to Walford one more time. However, prior to his departure, he made amends by taking a decisive stand for those he had previously failed.

Following the news that Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) had been diagnosed with early-stage dementia, Grant turned to his former wife, Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), for comfort.

Following their shared night of intimacy, Sharon confided in Grant that their romantic encounter had been a mistake; however, she was more concerned about his brother Phil (Steve McFadden) discovering the truth than her partner Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian).

In the meantime, Patsy Palmer’s character, Bianca Jackson, found herself in a downward spiral following a phone call confirming that Reiss Colwell’s body would be released by the coroner.

Overwhelmed and determined to distance herself from the killer who imprisoned her for several months, Bianca searched desperately for friend Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) at the taxi stand inside the laundry facility.

In that moment, Grant stumbled upon her during his attempt to hail a cab. As he assisted B in overcoming a panic attack, there was a tentative easing of tensions between them for the first time in many years. He subtly hinted at the possibility that Bianca might be suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Admittedly, Grant confessed that thoughts of his deceased spouse, Tiffany (Martine McCutcheon), persistently lingered in his mind. Eventually, he disclosed to Bianca that he’d recently become involved romantically with someone named Sharon.

After Bianca motivated him, they bid farewell on amicable notes. Subsequently, Grant embarked on a journey of making amends.

To reconcile with Nigel over his self-centered actions, Grant extended an invitation to Portugal, hoping to not only mend their relationship but also strengthen ties with his daughter Courtney.

Initially, Grant paid a visit to Phil at the psychiatric ward, which was his temporary residence due to his struggle with depression and suicidal ideations.

Phil admitted that he had always loved Sharon, so Grant kept his mouth shut about recent events.

In my personal reflection, Phil’s resilience was strikingly echoed by Grant, who pledged to improve and promised to reach out more frequently.

“If you must,” replied Phil, telling Grant to “be good”.

Phil and Grant exchanged a touching embrace, following which Grant departed to meet Nigel outside the subway station.

Grant and Sharon bid each other a heartfelt farewell, as Grant mentioned his preference for contacting their son, Mark Fowler Junior, only after he felt prepared to engage in conversation.

Sharon promised to look out for Phil, while Nigel explained he was staying put.

Nigel and Grant shared a touching conversation, with Nigel expressing his desire to cherish their moment, and Grant encouraging him to always keep their friendship in mind. Eventually, Grant chose to part ways.

Will Grant be back one day to annoy/check in on Phil? Let’s hope we’ve not seen the last of him!

Should you find yourself requiring assistance or advice concerning the topics discussed in this piece, consider reaching out to Samaritans, CALM, and Rethink Mental Illness for their valuable guidance.

For those in need of guidance when caring for a person with dementia, Dementia UK offers a specialized helpline staffed by experienced admiral nurses. To reach out to someone, simply dial: 0800 888 6678.