EastEnders teases Mitchell flashback twists with new spoilers

EastEnders has released new images and spoilers teasing the Mitchell family's upcoming flashback episode.

A one-off edition airing on Monday, September 5 will offer a glimpse at how the Mitchells lived in 1979.

The episode ties in with an ongoing storyline in the present day, as Phil Mitchell faces more pressure from DI Keeble to come through with his promise to become a police informant.

Phil will be "shocked to his core" when he discovers exactly who Keeble wants him to inform on.

samantha keeble, phil mitchell, eastenders

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As the episode flashes back to 1979, viewers will see how the Mitchells were coping at a time of economic turmoil for Britain.

Peggy has her hands full keeping a busy household running, and there are tensions in her marriage to Eric.

When Eric learns that Phil has landed a job at a garage, he decides to take both Phil and Grant out on a 'job' to give them some work experience, despite disapproval from Peggy.

Eric and Phil seem to be battling for the title of man of the house, but who will come out on top?

BBC

Jaime Winstone takes on the role of Peggy Mitchell in the episode, having previously played Dame Barbara Windsor in the BBC's 2017 biopic Babs.

Speaking to Digital Spy and other media at a press conference recently, Jaime commented: "When I read the script, it was phenomenal. I couldn't put it down and I read it back-to-back twice, which I don't normally do.

"I was so invested in these characters, as we all are. Just seeing Phil and Grant as young men, then Peggy, then Eric – this bloody Eric who we've heard so much about and didn't know what he was about.

"I just fell in love with it. I love that it read like a play. I love that it's a working class period drama on the BBC. I thought that was just so monumental for what's going on now. I love the parallels in the script, with Thatcher on the telly and what's going on now in the UK. It's scarily similar."

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She continued: "Preparing was quite hard because you're walking into EastEnders – it's nerve-wracking. No pressure, you're just playing the most iconic character in British TV history!

"I tried to turn the nerves into excitement and as soon as I put that wig on, I could hear Barbara saying, 'you've got this'.

"When I worked with Barbara for Babs, she said: 'Don't worry, you're more me than me. You've got to make it your own'. That just stuck with me and that gave me the confidence of: 'You know what? She's told me I'm good. Barbara says I'm good, I'm good'.

"It was just about getting it right. The script was so good and [EastEnders' executive producer] Chris Clenshaw was so encouraging and invested in the importance of where these characters grew and where they came from.

"I just really felt the trust was real and I could just go with it and all the other actors were so great. It was brilliant."

phil mitchell, grant mitchell, peggy mitchell, eric mitchell, eastenders

BBC

Daniel Delaney, who's playing the younger version of Phil, also hinted that we'll see a different side of the soap hardman.

He said: "Phil is more timid for sure. The audience will get to see and know the dynamic in the Mitchell household when Eric – Phil's dad – was around. He was seen as man of the house and Phil was seen as the understudy, as it were, but it's going to be fun, it's going to be a very different Phil.

"I'm looking forward to getting people's reaction and I also think it's important that the Mitchell family's story gets told.

"I think it's important to show the different modes of his character. Everyone knows Phil now as Mr Macho, a gangster that is feared by many, but it's his journey from a teenage boy that made him that way.

"It's important that he and the Mitchell family have their story told, especially in the late 70s when Great Britain's economy was fractured. I hope the struggles translate on screen and everyone enjoys the episode as much as we did making it."

Check out Digital Spy's full coverage from EastEnders' autumn press event:

- EastEnders confirms Dot Branning death storyline as soap pays tribute to June Brown

- EastEnders breaks silence on Sid Owen's return as Ricky Butcher

- EastEnders casts Navin Chowdhry as newcomer Nish Panesar

- EastEnders' new boss Chris Clenshaw shares vision for show's future

- EastEnders boss promises shock DI Keeble revelation in Mitchell flashback episode

- EastEnders to introduce a face from Sam Mitchell's past

- EastEnders boss teases ending of Mick and Janine story

EastEnders airs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.