EastEnders airs surprise early return for major character after 10 years in BBC iPlayer release

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Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, always seems to be at the center of trouble, and things were no different in today’s episode of EastEnders.

He’s been secretly planning a move to Portugal with his longtime friend Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) for weeks, even though he’s struggling with early-onset dementia and his memory is getting worse.

Julie, Nige’s wife (played by Karen Henthorn), hasn’t been told about these plans and is currently looking into care options for him, believing he may need them.

Today on the show, Phil said goodbye to his son, Raymond, who had spent the night. Raymond’s mother, Denise Fox, suggested he have more sleepovers, but she quickly realized her comment had shifted the mood.

Phil said he was too busy to make any plans. When she asked what was bothering him, he explained he’d been feeling down because his sister, Sam (played by Kim Medcalf), was recovering from a lumpectomy.

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I just had this feeling something bigger was happening, so I tracked down George Knight – Colin Salmon, who’s great in the role – at the Minute Mart. I was really hoping he could figure out what was really going on, and thankfully, he agreed to look into it.

Sam woke up in the hospital after her surgery and was surprised to find her brother, Phil, visiting. It was a peaceful moment for the two, who haven’t always gotten along.

She said she believed he would have already departed for Portugal with Nigel, and that made George raise an eyebrow in surprise.

Phil, standing in the hallway, attributed Sam’s unusual behavior to her medication and told George to mind his own affairs. However, secrets don’t last in Walford.

Denise was upset and waited at the Mitchells’ house for Phil to come back so she could confront him. She angrily told him that taking Nigel away was reckless and that he hadn’t considered how it would affect others or his own responsibilities.

That evening, Phil talked to Nigel and asked if he was still planning to leave.

A knock at the door broke the men’s conversation, and to their surprise, Mark Fowler Jr. (played by Stephen Aaron-Sipple) was standing there.

Badly beaten, he charged into the hallway and wanted his uncle to ensure he locked-up behind him.

Who is he running from, why is he back in Walford, and who is responsible for the attack?

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Authors

Michael AdamsSoaps Editor

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at TopMob, giving fans all the latest news and spoilers from popular shows like Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, and Hollyoaks. Before joining TopMob, he worked as a Soaps Reporter at Metro for two years, and he also has experience working directly on the sets of Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

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2026-01-22 10:34