The real life of EastEnders' new character Stevie Mitchell and what he's been in

28 December 2023 , 20:05

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Iconic actor Alan Ford is set to star in EastEnders in the New Year playing Billy Mitchell's dad Stevie Mitchell.

Swapping his glittering film career for the popular BBC soap, Alan heads to Walford to pay his respects to the late Aunt Sal, who was the sister of Peggy Mitchell. But his attendance at the funeral sparks speculation that there is more to Stevie than meets the eye, after receiving a cold reception by the existing Mitchell clan. Billy grew up in care at the age of ten after Stevie took sole custody of his brother Charlie and the pair last saw each other off screen twenty-five years ago.

The real life of EastEnders' new character Stevie Mitchell and what he's been in eiqrkitriqrdinv

Stevie Mitchell is played by legendary actor Alan Ford in EastEnders and is set to star in the New Year (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Alan's career has gone from strength to strength over the years and he is probably best known for his roles in Guy Ritchie's films Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch - playing a feared London gangster. Speaking about joining the coveted BBC cast Alan, 85, said: "I feel highly delighted to be playing a character close to my own age in this extremely popular television drama series."

And Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw added: It’s an honour to welcome the immensely talented Alan Ford to the cast of EastEnders as he takes on the role of Stevie Mitchell. Whilst Billy has been a stalwart in the show for over 25 years, viewers know very little about his complicated childhood and the events that led him to grow up in care. Alan arrives in Walford as the Mitchell family prepare to say goodbye to their beloved Aunt Sal but it soon becomes apparent that he is not welcome in the family fold." So who is Alan Ford? Here we take a look at his real life.....

The real life of EastEnders' new character Stevie Mitchell and what he's been in

Alan Ford has starred in Hollywood blockbusters Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch

EARLY LIFE

Alan was born in Camberwell, south London and is the eldest son of a seamstress and a taxi driver. After Alan's birth in 1938, the family moved to Elephant and Castle in the same area of London. He left school at the age of 15 and undertook a variety of jobs. He then spent two years doing National service in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Alan then managed to secure a place at East 15 Acting school and spent three years studying drama which included Shakespeare, Chekhov and improvisation. One of his tutors while Alan was studying was the famous director Mike Leigh.

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TV & FILM CAREER

Alan Ford played a London gangster in Snatch

Alan's widespread career encompasses theatre , TV and film and this included stage performances at the National Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre and the Theatre Royal Stratford East His first taste of a film career started when he was cast for the small role as a taxi driver in the film American Werewolf in London. Alan's memorable line was "It puts you in mind of the days of the old demon barber of Fleet Street, doesn't it?" This was in response to the wave of murders in London at the time the film was set.

Although the actor is known for his straight-talking roles as a London gangster, earlier in his career, he had shown himself to be a talented comedy actor after starring in the Armando Iannucci production Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge. Alan played a boxing promoter called Terry Norton.

Fast-forward to 1998, Alan was taken on to narrate and appear in Guy Ritchie's crime comedy film Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. And two years later he was then cast as crime boss Brick Top in another of Guy Ritchie's films, Snatch.

In 2003, he provided the voice of Goliath in the British version of JoJo's Circus. As a well known face in the British film scene, Alan was then invited to star in the 2010 music video for the Lostprophets' song For He's A Jolly Good Felon. By 2011, it became clear that he was best suited to playing a gangster as he was cast as crime boss Carter in the film Jack Falls, alongside his Lock Stock co-stars Jason Flemyng and Dexter Fletcher.

And in 2014, he was cast in another crime thriller Two Days In The Smoke alongside another of his Lock Stock co-stars, Stephen Marcus. Most recently, Alan appeared in the psychological thriller Winter Ridge. Apart from acting, Alan has also penned a novel titled Thin Ice in 2006 and said the book "evolved from a collection of anecdotes and actors' tales."