EastEnders’ Billy Murray believes former co-star Steve McFadden should be KNIGHTED

EastEnders’ Billy Murray believes former co-star Steve McFadden should be KNIGHTED for his hard work as Phil Mitchell on the BBC One soap

Billy Murray has said that his former EastEnders co-star Steve McFadden should be knighted for his hard work on the soap.

Steve, 62, notably portrays the role of Phil Mitchell, who made his first appearance in Albert Square in 1990.

Billy, 79, who played gangster Johnny Allen between 2005 and 2006, believes that his past colleague deserves a honour for being in the BBC One soap for so long. 

‘He should be Sir Steve’: Billy Murray has said that his former EastEnders co-star Steve McFadden should be knighted for his hard work on the soap (pictured in 2019) 

He told The Mirror: ‘Steve McFadden should be knighted. He works so hard. He should be Sir Steve.

‘He has been in EastEnders forever and it is tough working in a soap… Robert De Niro wouldn’t do it, the big actors wouldn’t.

‘You get a script, learn the lines and then it all changes. It takes a lot of your energy.’

Phil Mitchell is arguably one of EastEnders’ most iconic characters, and has been involved in many high-profile storylines over the years.

Long-running character: Steve, 62, notably portrays the role of Phil Mitchell, who made his first appearance in Albert Square in 1990 (pictured in 2003)

Long-running character: Steve, 62, notably portrays the role of Phil Mitchell, who made his first appearance in Albert Square in 1990 (pictured in 2003) 

Way back when: Billy, 79, who played gangster Johnny Allen between 2005 and 2006, believes that his past colleague deserves a honour for being in the BBC One soap for so long (pictured in 2005)

Way back when: Billy, 79, who played gangster Johnny Allen between 2005 and 2006, believes that his past colleague deserves a honour for being in the BBC One soap for so long (pictured in 2005)  

One of his most famous plots saw him shot by an unknown character in 2001, who was later revealed to be his ex-girlfriend Lisa Shaw (Lucy Benjamin).

Phil quickly became rivals with Billy’s on-screen character Johnny Allen, with things escalating during the soap’s Get Johnny Week in early 2006, which also saw the return of Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp).

Johnny was later killed off in October 2006, in which he died of a heart attack while serving time in prison.

In recent scenes broadcast in the series, Phil’s ex-wife Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) revealed that she wants to become involved in his money laundering scheme.

Up to no good:In recent scenes broadcast in the series, Phil's ex-wife Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) revealed that she wants to become involved in his money laundering scheme

Up to no good:In recent scenes broadcast in the series, Phil’s ex-wife Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) revealed that she wants to become involved in his money laundering scheme