EastEnders' Phil's dramatic real life from co-star split to Danny Dyer 'feud'
Few EastEnders characters can proclaim to be anywhere near as iconic as Phil Mitchell, Albert Square's ultimate hardman who has dealt with more twists and turns than the rest of the Queen Vic punters put together. At the centre of legendary storylines such as "Sharongate" and "Who shot Phil?", the macho Mitchell brother continues to be an enduring favourite amongst EastEnders fans, who couldn't imagine him portrayed by anyone else apart from Steve McFadden.
It's fair to say that McFadden has navigated a fair bit of drama in his own personal life, from romances with co-star Lucy Benjamin to an alleged backstage feud with Danny Dyer.
Early life and rise to fame
Like his most famous character, McFadden grew up in London but lived in Westminster, not Walford. He worked in a variety of jobs after leaving school, finding employment in plumbing, carrot picking, and as a builder's merchant before deciding to pursue his acting dreams.
Phil has one of the most complicated love lives of anyone in EastEnders (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, McFadden made his acting debut in 1989, landing a small part in football hooligan film, The Firm. It was in 1990 that he joined the cast of EastEnders alongside his onscreen siblings, Grant (Ross Kemp), and Sam (Daniella Westbrook).
Romances
Phil has had a few love affairs in his time, clocking up four marriages and counting. His offscreen counterpart Steve has also had a somewhat eventful love life, including a co-star romance. McFadden's first relationship was with childhood sweetheart Sue Marshall, with whom he shares son Matt. Following their split, Steve's next relationship was reportedly with Angela Bostock, who he met at a party back in 1995.
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
It was after this break-up that sparks flew between McFadden and fellow cast member Lucy Benjamin, who played his volatile onscreen girlfriend Lisa Fowler. The couple dated from 1999 to 2003, and continued to worked together after their split. During a 2017 episode of Loose Women, following her character's return to the Square, Benjamin remarked: "It was strange really, but lovely to be working with Steve, Tish, and Natalie Cassidy again. It was just like being with mates. They have been doing fabulous work and I knew that they would look after me and have my back upon my return."
McFadden resumed his relationship with old flame Angela after he and Lucy called it quits. The couple welcomed daughters Teona and Mollie Jane, before breaking up for a second time in 2005. The actor then embarked on a relationship with Dr Rachel Sidwell., with whom he welcomed another daughter, Amelie Tinkerbell, in 2009.
For more than ten years, McFadden has reportedly been in a relationship with current girlfriend Karen Cairns, with whom he shares a daughter Frankie, born in 2016.
McFadden and Benjamin dated from 1999 until 2003 (Ray Tang/REX/Shutterstock)
McFadden is a father-of-five (WireImage)Family life
McFadden is a proud dad to Matthew, Teona, Mollie, Amelie, and Frankie, and, although the actor prefers to keep his private life out of the limelight, has previously opened up about the joys of fatherhood following Amelie's birth in September 2009. The delighted father told OK! magazine: "I'm happier now than I've ever been. I can't wait to start having more now. The day she was born was one of the greatest of my life."
After youngest daughter Frankie's birth in June 2016, a source told The Sun: "Steve and Karen are both over the moon with little Frankie. Her pregnancy did come as a surprise, but now they are both really happy."
Alleged feud with Danny Dyer
After quitting EastEnders in 2022, Danny Dyer, who played landlord Mick Carter, hinted that he wasn't exactly best friends with everyone on set during an appearance on ITV's Jonathan Ross Show, revealing: "There's a few. I ain't going to lie. I won't say who. Most I love dearly. Not all…" A TV source later told The Sun that McFadden disliked Dyer from the moment he joined the cast in 2013, claiming: "It was an open secret on set. They rarely worked together."
A separate source told the publication: "Steve hated that bosses gave Mick the Queen Vic, which spent so many years being at the heart of the Mitchell family. It meant Danny would have maximum screen time. Danny coming in was a big fanfare, and everyone loved him, but Steve didn't like him. Danny tried to win him over but Steve wasn't having it. In the end, Danny got sick of him."
Things apparently became so heated, that McFadden didn't attend the leaving do of his otherwise well-liked castmate.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
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