EastEnders’ Steve McFadden ‘unrecognisable’ in early role before Phil Mitchell
Steve McFadden has been playing Phil Mitchell in EastEnders for 36 years, sporting a shaved look, but he looked very different in The Bill
Steve McFadden has been a fixture on our screens as Phil Mitchell in EastEnders for 36 years, cementing his status as a beloved British icon.
Devotees of the BBC drama have become accustomed to seeing the tough-as-nails Phil’s distinctive bald look as he prowls around Walford in his signature leather jacket, shooting menacing glares at residents – or the occasional flirtatious wink towards prospective love interests.
However, Phil possesses a softer side too, as audiences are currently witnessing through his tender care for dear friend Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley), who is heartbreakingly living with dementia.
Steve, 66, made his debut in 1990 and has consistently captivated audiences with his compelling performance as Phil, most notably during the sensational ‘whodunnit’ storyline of 2001, following his shooting on his own doorstep.
For several weeks, the attempted murder mystery dominated national conversation until the culprit was revealed to be his former flame, Lisa Fowler (Lucy Benjamin), reports OK!.
Phil’s romantic life has been equally dramatic, featuring his passionate affair and multiple marriages to Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), his doomed romance with Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth), and a hastily arranged wedding to Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace), which proved short-lived.
Given his character’s frequent appearances throughout the week on EastEnders, it’s difficult to picture how the actor looked almost four decades ago upon joining the programme. Yet when compared to his early days on the cherished BBC series, he appears remarkably different.
Phil Mitchell has been keeping EastEnders fans entertained for 36 years(Image: BBC/Kieron McCarron)
In the early stages of his acting journey, Steve featured as Mickey in the beloved 80s television programme Minder before joining Vote for Them in 1989 as Sergeant Ballantine, and portraying Jones in Bergerac (1990).
Prior to his arrival in Albert Square as one half of the Mitchell Brothers, Steve made a guest appearance on The Bill.
Running between 1983 and 2010, The Bill ranked among Britain’s most-watched television programmes and was broadcast on ITV.
Audiences were captivated by the crime drama, which delved into the lives and professional experiences of police officers stationed at the fictional Sun Hill.
EastEnders legend Steve McFadden during an episode of The Bill(Image: ITV)
During series five of The Bill, Steve secured the guest role of a gun dealer in the 1989 episode Bad Company.
In the hard-hitting instalment, Steve’s character is a criminal who aims a firearm at a police officer after their illegal operation is discovered by Sun Hill officers. Steve appears sporting a full head of hair and facial hair as he wreaks havoc on the programme.
His appearance on the ITV programme lasted one episode before he joined EastEnders as Phil Mitchell.
