EASTENDERS’ icon Phil Mitchell’s heartbreaking secret is revealed as he becomes isolated from his family.
The soap hardman is battling depression and illness after being abandoned by his family.
Son Ben is jailed in the US, daughter Louise is in Portugal and former wife Kat Slater has reunited with Alfie Moon.
Meanwhile, long-standing Walford resident Phil starts to have suicidal thoughts.
In scenes yet to air, Phil’s ex-wife Sharon (Letitia Dean) and his relative Teddy (Roland Manookian) decide to give things a go after spending the night together.
Hearing this, Teddy’s ex-wife Nicola (Laura Doddington), who is on a mission to wind Phil up, tells him the news so he’ll throw a spanner in the works.
After unsuccessfully trying to make Phil a co-conspirator in breaking up Teddy and Sharon, Nicola heads to No.55 to try again.
She is, however, left shocked by what she finds there.
Phil orders Nicola to get out, but she promises his secret is safe with her.
Naturally, she swiftly goes on to tell Sharon everything.
Using what she’s seen, Nicola tries to manipulate Sharon to drive a wedge between her and Teddy.
Sharon goes to see Phil, who brushes off Nicola’s story although she can see something is wrong.
After a confrontation, Phil feels further isolated from the other Mitchells – and Jay (Jamie Borthwick) clocks it.
He is unimpressed when Jay tries to dig into what’s going on.
This means Phil can’t bring himself to confide in Jay, who offers him the chance to talk.
Wanting to make things right with Phil, Teddy asks Billy (Perry Fenwick) for advice.
He later goes over to extend an invite for Christmas Day – but will Phil accept?
EastEnders continues on BBC One and iPlayer.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
