BBC EastEnders announces four soap returns in 'special' storyline

EastEnders has announced four soap returns as part of a 'special' storyline.

As part of Phil Mitchell's ongoing mental health storyline, viewers will see actress Jaime Winstone return in order to reprise the role of Peggy Mitchell.

Also joining Jaime, 39, are George Russo (Eric Mitchell), Daniel Delaney (Phil Mitchell) and Teddy Jay (Grant Mitchell) who are also returning to reprise their roles of the younger Mitchell clan, which they previously portrayed in 2022 for a special Mitchell flashback episode. Sam Miles will also be joining the cast to take on the role of a young Nigel Bates.

In the upcoming scenes, as Phil’s depression continues to take hold, he will start to experience symptoms of psychosis in the form of hallucinations depicting scenes from the Mitchell family home in 1985.

A synopsis teases: "During his hallucinations, Phil will act as a bystander to a pivotal moment from his adolescence. As Phil’s negative internal dialogue worsens, the hallucinations will also transcend into Phil’s life as he starts to converse with the characters from his past, as well as his former younger self back in Walford in The Square and at No.55."

As part of the powerful storyline, EastEnders is working closely with The Samaritans, Rethink Mental Illness, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), and Mind to ensure Phil's depression story is portrayed as accurately and as sensitively as possible.

Talking about returning to the hit BBC One soap, Jaime said: "It was such an honour to be welcomed back to play Peggy Mitchell, she is a dream role for me; so to be able to contribute to this iconic family on this major storyline has been such a joyous and emotional journey and I truly hope I have done her justice. Thank you to