EastEnders special episode to air during Comic Relief
5 minute mental health episode will feature Phil Mitchell.
EastEnders is teaming up with Comic Relief this Red Nose Day to air a special 5-minute episode highlighting Phil Mitchell’s mental health and the importance of seeking treatment.
For the past few months, EastEnders has been focusing on Phil Mitchell’s (Steve McFadden) mental health journey, culminating in a crisis point during the show's 40th anniversary, when his depression and psychosis symptoms led him to attempt suicide.
While staying in a mental health facility, Phil befriends a patient named Andy (Jake Rory), who shares his experiences living in a homeless youth hostel. The two soon discover they have more in common than they initially thought.
EastEnders and Comic Relief have worked closely with the Brandon Centre, a Comic Relief-funded charity dedicated to supporting youth mental health, to ensure the storyline is portrayed with sensitivity and accuracy.
Samir Patel, CEO of Comic Relief, said: “Comic Relief has a long and proud history of supporting incredible organisations who are delivering vital work to help tackle homelessness and the ongoing mental health crisis. We are extremely grateful to EastEnders and Brandon Centre for their work in helping to create this powerful and poignant film that will resonate with so many. Together with your support this Red Nose Day, we can help ensure support just like this is available to those who need it the most right here in the UK and around the world.”
Julia Brown, CEO Brandon Centre added: “The support from Comic Relief has been invaluable. It has allowed us to make an enormous difference to local homeless young people, with therapy delivered directly in hostels, at a time when they need it the most. Working alongside the EastEnders team has been hugely important, as it is significantly helping raise awareness of the drastic impact of homelessness on young people’s lives.”
Chris Clenshaw, EastEnders Executive Producer said of the storyline: “We’re thrilled to be working alongside Comic Relief and Brandon Centre as we continue to explore the complex realities of Phil’s journey with mental health. Whilst seeking treatment, Phil and Andy quickly realise they have more in common than they first anticipated.”
This special episode will air as part of Comic Relief: Funny For Money, a star-studded event celebrating 40 years of Comic Relief fundraising, on Friday, March 21st. It will follow a previously announced EastEnders episode featuring guest star Keith Allen, which will run over four weeks, focusing on Phil's journey in the mental health unit. The episode will air Thursday, March 20th at 7:30 PM on BBC One and 6 AM on BBC iPlayer.