EastEnders confirms emotional outcome of Phil Mitchell story in iPlayer release

Ash Percival

Published March 20, 2025 7:00am

Steve McFadden as Phil Mitchell in EastEnders, with an absolutely broken and tearful expression. — Thursday’s EastEnders followed Phil Mitchell’s four-week stay in a mental health unit (Picture: BBC)

This article contains spoilers for Thursday’s episode of EastEnders, which is already available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

EastEnders’ Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) had an emotional reunion with his loved ones after discharging himself from his mental health unit in a powerful episode on Thursday.

Soap stalwart Steve McFadden gave another award-worthy performance in his character’s mental health storyline, as the special episode charted Phil’s four-week stay in the facility.

Having been admitted to the unit after his devastating suicide attempt during EastEnders’ 40th anniversary episodes last month, fans saw him initially struggling to accept help and adapt to life on the unit.

After befriending a fellow patient called Gaz – played brilliantly by guest star Keith Allen – Phil slowly but surely started to feel able to open up.

During one particular conversation with his new friend, Phil made an admission that could have huge consequences when he returns to Walford.

He told Gaz of how he still has feelings for ex-wife Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), admitting how he thought of her shortly before trying to take his own life.

Sharon and Grant share a drink in EastEnders — Phil admitted he still has feelings for Sharon – but doesn’t yet know about her night with Grant (Picture: BBC)

Of course, while Phil has been in the unit, Sharon had a regrettable one-night stand with Phil’s brother Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp), which could stand in the way of a potential reunion when he finds out…

Back in the unit, an incident involving Gaz led Phil have some poignant conversations with his support worker Yasmin, who eventually helped him see he was ready to discharge himself.

With the timeline catching up with the previous episode’s cliffhanger, Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick), Lexi Pearce (Isabella Brown), Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) and Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) turned up at the unit to find him gone.

Phil Mitchell and friend Gaz in the mental health unit in EastEnders — Phil found a friend in fellow patient Gaz (Picture: BBC)

They later tracked him down at the graveside of his mum Peggy (Barbara Windsor) and abusive dad Eric, where Phil was able to finally let go of his demons and the toxic influence Eric has had on his life.

Sharing an emotional reunion with his loved ones, Phil tearfully vowed to support his best mate Nigel, whose dementia symptoms are beginning to worsen.

As the group then accompanied Phil back to Walford, the opening bars of Julia’s Theme played over the end of what was another stellar episode in Phil’s mental health storyline.