EastEnders flashback episode cast: List of 1979’s Mitchell actors

Who’s played by who in the 1979 instalment?

By Laura Denby

Published: Monday, 05 September 2022 at 12:00 am

Get out of my house!

The Mitchells are receiving the flashback treatment, and that means that iconic EastEnders characters we have come to know and love will temporarily be joining the EastEnders cast through new actors.

A host of names are set to play the likes of Peggy, Phil and Billy in their younger days – all with a view to helping the Phil of the present day uncover the dark secret that DCI Keeble (Alison Newman) is hiding.

But who is playing who, and what exactly do you need to know about each member of the iconic clan before you dive into the episode? Here, we’ve put together a guide so you can get up to date ahead of time.

EastEnders flashback episode cast: List of 1979’s Mitchell actors

Jaime Winstone as Peggy Mitchell

Winstone previously played Dame Barbara Windsor herself in a drama biopic for BBC, and now takes on the role the star was most famous for. Windsor played Peggy from 1994 until the character’s death in 2016. A fierce woman who adored her family, Peggy experienced a lot of heartache in her life, from intervening when her sons were at war to battling breast cancer and being cheated on and manipulated by men.

As one of The Queen Vic’s most memorable bosses, Peggy’s catchphrase was “get out of my pub!” and it took a lot to tear her away from her beloved business. Peggy was eventually diagnosed with terminal cancer, and returned from overseas to say her goodbyes. She took control of her own demise, leaving her family devastated.

While we certainly saw Peggy’s vulnerable side in EastEnders, we’re promised there will be more to explore in the flashback. Winstone’s portrayal will also reveal what turned Peggy into the person she was when we met her.

Daniel Delaney as Phil Mitchell

BBC

Phil’s time in Walford spans over 30 years, as played by actor Steve McFadden. In that time, he’s been married four times and has endured at least three times as many near-death experiences! One such example includes the shocking moment brother Grant discovered his affair with Grant’s then-wife Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), leading Grant to attack Phil and leave him fighting for his life.

Since then, Phil has battled liver problems due to alcoholism and been shot twice. But every time he has lived on, and today he remains firmly a part of the BBC soap as the head of the Mitchells. Phil has softened in recent years but there are still those who wouldn’t dare to mess with him.

Delaney’s casting as a younger Phil, as you can see, is uncanny! Much like for Peggy, we are expecting to learn more about what made Phil into the man he became – but for McFadden’s Phil, it’s all about figuring out how he can defeat the detective that just won’t leave him alone.

Teddy Jay as Grant Mitchell

Grant has been played by Ross Kemp on and off since the 1990s, but unlike his big brother, Grant hasn’t been since since 2016. Originally the more volatile and violent brother, Grant proved to be the worst choice of husband for Sharon and the late Tiffany (Martine McCutcheon). He and Phil did manage to resolve their issues (for the most part), so Grant has been known to pop back from time to time.

Grant and daughter Courtney currently reside in Portugal, where they have lived for several years now. Viewers last saw them when Grant came to the aid of nephew Ben (then played by Harry Reid), who had been kidnapped by the men who attacked him in a hate crime. We also saw Grant debate whether to tell young Mark Fowler Jr that he was his biological father, before he ultimately decided to keep quiet.

Teddy Jay takes on the role of the younger Grant who is taken on a job with Phil by their dad Eric. It’s safe to say we may find some insight into who he is today, and how he became such a temperamental young man in his early EastEnders era.