User:FishLoveHam/Stevie Mitchell

Stevie Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Dean Roberts in 2022 and Alan Ford since 2024. Stevie first appeared in episode 6550, broadcast on 5 September 2022, a standalone flashback episode focused on the Mitchell family in 1979, where he is shown as the father of Charlie (Charlie Heptinstall) and Billy Mitchell (George Greenland/Perry Fenwick). Stevie was reintroduced in episode 6839, broadcast on 15 January 2024, attending the funeral of Aunt Sal (Anna Karen), where his relative Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) bans him from attending the wake, and threatens him to stay away from the family due to his poor treatment of Billy. He returns in episoden 6899, broadcasted on 29 April 2024, with the hopes of rebuilding relationships with his family.

Storylines
In 1979, Stevie, alongside his sons Charlie (Charlie Heptinstall) and Billy (George Greenland), cousin Eric Mitchell (George Russo), and Eric's sons Phil (Daniel Delaney) and Grant (Teddy Jay), plan an armed robbery at a warehouse. While stealing video recorders, they are caught by a security guard named Malcolm Keeble (Christopher Pizzey). Stevie quickly flees the warehouse while Malcolm is being shot by Eric. After Stevie's wife and Billy's mother left the family, Stevie gained gambling and alcohol addictions, and took sole custody of Charlie while placing Billy into care, where he was cruelly bullied. At Charlie's funeral, Stevie told Billy that it should have been Billy.

In January 2024, Stevie's relative Aunt Sal (Anna Karen) passes away, and he attends her funeral. After the service, Stevie and Phil (Steve McFadden) talk outside. Stevie is disappointed that Billy didn't attend, but Phil shows no sympathy, tells him to leave the Mitchell family alone, and bans him from attending the wake.

Stevie returns in late April 2024 after seeing Honey Edwards (Emma Barton) propose to Billy (Perry Fenwick) after the 2024 London Marathon. He finds the family in The Queen Victoria and before he can introducing himself, is immediately turned away by everyone, except his curious great-granddaughter Lexi Mitchell (Isabella Brown). Stevie insists to Billy that he isn't there for money and wants to reconnect with his family, admitting his failings and acknowledging that his current place in the family is his own fault, but Billy doesn't believe him. Stevie quickly wins over the children, Lexi, Will (Freddie Phillips), and Janet Mitchell (Grace), much to Billy's outrage. At the launderette, Stevie and Lexi bond, with Lexi admitting that she wants to bring the fractured Mitchells back together as a unit, but she doesn't trust Nadine Keller (Jazzy Phoenix), who her adoptive father Jay (Jamie Borthwick) is having a child with. Stevie promises to help her bring the family back together before he catches Nadine adjusting her baby bump later, realising it is fake. Nadine tries bribing him into staying quiet, but he exposes her scheme and they are both turned away. Stevie comforts a frustrated Jay and stops him from turning to cocaine, sets him straights and assures him he isn't an unfit father, but makes it clear that he needs to sort himself out for Lexi's sake, which Jay appreciates. The children invite him to lunch, where bonds with them very well, despite Billy's insistance that this stop. Stevie is defended by Will after Billy scolds his son for befriending Stevie. Stevie again insists his innocence to Billy, that all he wants is to reconnect, this time successfully convincing Billy as Billy gives Stevie a chance.

Stevie begins a flirtmance with Mo Harris (Laila Morse)

Will tells Stevie he is being catfished and blackmailed, needing £300 to stop his pictures from being spread. Stevie does his best to help, but isn't able to find the money. During a charity event in memory of Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold), the money raised goes missing and everyone blames Stevie. Stevie finds out that Will took the money and while trying to convince him to confess, Will accidentally knocks Stevie over, hitting his head. Stevie is found by Phil and rushed to hospital, but is okay. When he wakes up, his estranged son Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian) arrives with his own sons Harry (Elijah Holloway) and Barney (Lewis Bridgeman). Teddy tells everyone in The Queen Victoria that he is Billy's half brother. Back at the house, Will confesses that he took the money, and the new Mitchell relatives are accepted.

Flashback
Before playing Stevie in the 2022 flashback episode, actor Dean Roberts didn't know much about the character as he has never appeared on-screen, so did extensive research to envision Stevie's personality and his standing in the Mitchell family. In his words: "I had to learn a lot about his character based on other people's opinions and I had done a lot of research on Billy when he first entered the show. It's interesting what Peggy says about him – that she's not too fond of that branch of the family. He seems to have a better relationship with his cousin Eric, they are like partners in crime". Roberts detailed that he had always been impressed with Perry Fenwick's range when playing Billy, namely how "he switches so well from comedy to drama", so tried to base Stevie on Billy's characteristics as, despite the characters being morally opposites, "the apple wouldn't fall far from the tree". The actor found Stevie's backstory "interesting", suggesting that Stevie was "envious" of Eric's family dynamic. To prepare for the role, Roberts watched older episodes of EastEnders to study Billy's characteristics. Roberts admitted he was uncertain about weather or not Stevie felt guilt over his poor parenting, especially for putting Billy in a care home, describing Stevie as "a very selfish character" and "a product of his era".

Reintroduction
https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a45882377/eastenders-casts-alan-ford-aunt-sal-funeral/

On 28 December 2023, the show announced that Stevie would make his first appearance in the current timeline of the show, with established actor Alan Ford being cast in the role.

Speaking on his role, Ford was "highly delighted" to join EastEnders and to play a character similar to his own age.

Executive producer Chris Clenshaw added: "It's an honour to welcome the immensely talented Alan Ford to the cast of EastEnders as he takes on the role of Stevie Mitchell. Whilst Billy has been a stalwart in the show for over 25 years, viewers know very little about his complicated childhood and the events that led him to grow up in care. Alan arrives in Walford as the Mitchell family prepare to say goodbye to their beloved Aunt Sal but it soon becomes apparent that he is not welcome in the family fold".

This was Ford's second role on the soap, having played con man Sam Sangers in 1986.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a46241917/eastenders-alan-ford-billy-mitchell-dad/

https://www.italktelly.com/post/alan-ford-joins-eastenders-as-billy-mitchell-s-estranged-dad

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/youve-seen-eastenders-stevie-mitchell-31760827

https://www.thatspopculture.com/alan-fords-arrival-in-walford-shakes-up-eastenders-a-closer-look-at-the-legendary-actors-role

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a46362794/eastenders-grant-mitchell-funeral-storyline/

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-blackmail-threat-sam-phil-newsupdate/

https://www.mylondon.news/news/tv/eastenders-spoiler-see-stevie-mitchell-29044358

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-spoilers-bianca-return-stevie-billy/

https://metro.co.uk/2024/04/24/lexi-teams-surprise-resident-expose-nadine-eastenders-20691534/

https://metro.co.uk/2024/04/26/death-ordeal-broken-billy-estranged-dad-stevie-returns-20696039/

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/bbc-eastenders-spoilers-stevie-billy-32706420

https://www.mylondon.news/news/tv/eastenders-fans-already-love-stevie-29096796

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/bbc-eastenders-stevie-mitchells-true-32715441

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/bbc-eastenders-death-sealed-fans-32708655

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a60660966/eastenders-spoilers-jay-aftermath-nadine-lie-pictures/

https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/03/eastenders-newcomer-appeared-soap-a-different-role-20767621/

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/stevie-mitchell-eastenders-alan-ford-32705746

https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/09/eastenders-newcomer-stevies-sad-ulterior-motive-walford-return-20805668/

https://metro.co.uk/2024/05/17/mo-back-sets-sights-a-walford-local-passion-20835052/

https://www.italktelly.com/post/freddie-is-determined-to-get-kat-and-alfie-back-together-as-he-returns-to-walford-with-mo-in-eastend

The new Mitchells and Will's Blackmail
https://www.entertainmentdailyuk.com/soaps/eastenders-announces-new-mitchell-family-arrivals-fans-hit-out/

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-stevie-secret-family-new-mitchell-cast-newsupdate/

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a61019030/eastenders-spoilers-new-mitchell-family-teddy/

https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/bbc-watford-steve-mcfadden-phil-mitchell-british-b1162737.html

https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/2454452/eastenders-rumour-the-mitchell-family-is-set-to-expand-in-2024

https://www.mylondon.news/news/tv/eastenders-mitchell-family-forgotten-brothers-24830270

https://metro.co.uk/2024/06/14/eastenders-casting-new-mitchells-great-characters-need-help-21026692/

https://metro.co.uk/2024/06/17/eastenders-favourite-rushed-hospital-brutal-attack-teen-21051448/

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a61137525/eastenders-spoilers-stevie-collapse-secret-family/

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/eastenders-spoilers-reveal-dna-bombshell-33039479

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/bbc-eastenders-spoilers-see-worrying-32993313

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a61120194/eastenders-stevie-mitchell-risk-will-blackmail/