EXCITEMENT for EastEnders fans as THIS Walford LEGEND returns tonight

EastEnders logo

Phil Mitchell is on his way home...

There's excitement heading for EastEnders tonight as a Walford legend Phil Mitchell makes a surprise return to Albert Square.

EastEnders fans will know that Phil has been missing since the night of the fateful Thames boat crash that saw Denny die in tragic circumstances.

EastEnders Denny Ian boat

Denny drowned in a tragic boat crash last month (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Matt Burlem/Amy Sharp)

The last we saw of Phil was him sitting on a boat on the Thames as paramedics tried to revive Denny on the banks of the river.

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With Phil causing the boat crash during his fight with Keanu Taylor, Phil thinks he is solely responsible for Denny's death.

But little does he know Ian Beale also played a part in Sharon's son's demise by locking him in a room below deck in revenge for trolling Bobby online.

Sharon in EastEnders

Sharon is fuming when Phil arrives at Denny's wake tonight (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)

But tonight sees Phil make a surprise comeback just in time for Denny's funeral... and it's fair to say that Sharon is not happy to see him.

Sharon is oblivious to Ian's part in her son's demise and so believes Phil is the one to blame, and tonight she is fuming when he arrives just after she had laid her beloved Denny to rest.

After telling Ben, Lola and Jay that no Mitchells are welcome at the funeral tonight, Ben defiantly arrives at the wake, and Sharon sees red.

Sharon Mitchell

Tomorrow sees a grieving Sharon launch herself at Phil (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)

But that is nothing in comparison to how she reacts when Phil turns up, having returned to Albert Square for the first time in weeks.

Tomorrow's EastEnders sees things get worse between Phil and Sharon as she launches herself at Phil, leading to Ian and Kathy stepping in to hold her back.

Sharon Mitchell

Phil's back, but Sharon is far from happy to see him (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)

But will Phil be able to talk to his ex and explain what happened?

With Sharon still struggling to get through each day in the wake of what has happened, could Phil's return send her back to rock bottom again?

EastEnders will temporarily air a reduced schedule of two episodes a week. Watch on Mondays at 8pm and Tuesdays at 7:30pm on BBC One. 

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 


After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off


She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 


As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.