‘EastEnders’ flashback episode: Phil faces his past as he looks back on Mitchell history

We’re set to learn more about Phil Mitchell’s (Steve McFadden) past as EastEnders delivers a flashback special, and there are bombshells waiting to be uncovered.

The BBC soap, which airs tonight at 7.30pm, has brought in an impressive new cast for the one-off episode as EastEnders transports us to 1979, a time of economic crisis for Britain.

The younger Phil is played by Daniel Delaney, while we finally get to meet his father Eric (George Russo).

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But before we delve further into what you can expect, what has prompted this trip down memory lane?

It’s all down to dodgy DCI Keeble (Alison Newman), who struck a deal with the present day Phil to secure his release from prison. Phil has become an informant for Keeble; but, of course, it was never going to be as simple as Phil turning 'grass' for the Old Bill.

He’s actually been keeping Keeble at bay while he digs for clues on her ulterior motive. Forget that list of dodgy contacts — he knows she isn’t interested in them.

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Phil confronted Keeble with that very accusation; and she handed him a photo and instructed him to tell her everything he knows about that mystery person, or else. Phil was resistant, but Keeble made it clear he had no choice; paving the way for EastEnders to dig deeper into Mitchell history to examine who Phil has been forced to betray - and why.

Jaime Winstone portrays matriarch Peggy (the iconic character made famous by Dame Barbara Windsor), who is trying to hold her family together. Her marriage to Eric isn’t faring well, and Phil and his father are competing to be man of the house.

When Eric hears that his son is set to start work as a mechanic, he takes Phil and younger brother Grant (Teddy Jay) on a ‘job’ to give them some real experience. Peggy isn’t happy about it, but we don’t expect that to stop Eric.

Indeed, based on all we’ve heard about Eric, he was quite the bully. While this episode primarily solves the mystery of Keeble’s vendetta against the Mitchells, it's equally crucial to see the younger, impressionable Phil in his dad’s company.

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What will we learn about Phil, and how he became the man he is today? And what is Keeble’s big secret?

We can't give anything away, but prepare to be amazed by actor Delaney's stunning portrayal as Phil, which is hauntingly authentic. Winstone perfectly embodies Peggy, while George Greenland's Billy certainly lives up to original star Perry Fenwick's own screen presence.

Tune in to EastEnders tonight at 7.30pm on BBC One as secrets are exposed.

Watch a first look of Jaime Winstone as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders' flashback special.