How are Lola and Billy related in EastEnders? Everything you need to know

Billy Mitchell, Lola Pearce and Lexi Pearce
How are Lola and Billy related in EastEnders? (Image credit: BBC)

EastEnders' long-standing residents Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) and Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) are currently at the forefront of an emotional storyline that's shattered the close-knit Mitchell family.

Fan-favourite Lola recently received the devastating diagnosis that she had a terminal brain tumour and it's become a heartbreaking reality that Lola will eventually lose her battle with the disease.

Since then, Lola and her loved ones, including her 'Pops' Billy, have been reeling from the discovery and are supporting Lola throughout her cancer treatment.

Lola's family connection to the Mitchells runs deeper than Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) being the father of her daughter, Lexi (Isabella Brown) as she's also related to Billy who she lovingly refers to as 'Pops.'

So how are Lola and Billy related in EastEnders?

Billy Mitchell and Lola Pearce

Billy Mitchell and Lola Pearce have a great relationship.  (Image credit: BBC)

In short, Billy is Lola's grandfather.

Billy had a son, Dan Pearce with his childhood friend and girlfriend Julie Perkins (Cathy Murphy) who he gave up for adoption.

In 2011, he decided to track down Dan, until he found out that he had died and left behind a 15-year-old daughter — this led Billy to find his granddaughter Lola, who was in care.

Billy's first meeting with feisty troublemaker Lola went far from well as she stole his wallet, but their relationship improved when she returned to Walford the next day to give it back to him.

Lola decided to stay in the Square and brought explosive chaos with her as she thieved, vandalized, got arrested and fell pregnant by killer teen Ben.

Since then, Lola has been involved in some hard-hitting storylines and infamously became the first EastEnders character to give birth on live television in 2012 to baby Lexi.

EastEnders airs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7.30 pm on BBC One — see our TV Guide for full listings. You can also catch up on episodes on BBC iPlayer now. 

Grace Morris
Staff Writer

Grace is a digital writer with WhatToWatch.com, where she writes series guides, recaps and features for must-watch shows and delivers all the latest soap news and reactions. She graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in 2020 with a degree in Writing and Film Studies, which only made her love for creative writing, film and TV grow stronger.


You'll usually find her watching the drama unfold in the latest reality series or much-loved UK soaps (usually with chocolate by her side!). She's an expert in EastEnders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and everything reality-related from Selling Sunset and Married At First Sight UK to 90 Day Fiancé UK. Plus Netflix megahit Virgin River!


Grace also likes to explore new places with her friends and family and, of course, watch and read about the latest films and TV series.