Who was EastEnders' Jamie Mitchell and what happened to him?

EastEnders welcomed Stevie Mitchell to Walford this week as he received an unwelcome reception, but the conversation soon turned to Jamie Mitchell. During Tuesday's episode of the BBC One soap (April 30), Billy and Phil made it clear that Stevie was not welcome after he turned up in The Queen Vic and gate crashed a family gathering.

Quickly turning on the charm, Stevie introduced himself to Honey and Lexi who was elated to meet another relative. But Phil quickly saw through Stevie's kind antics after he managed to get a free drink from landlady Elaine. Honey consoles husband-to-be Billy and encourages him to speak to his estranged dad after 25 years. Back at No.18, Billy and Stevie have a frank conversation about his childhood but things quickly go south when Jamie is bought up.

Stevie asks where his grandson Jamie is and says he "must be in his forties now". The conversion goes flat before Billy confirms that Jamie is dead and how he had mistreated him while he was in his care. Billy soon orders his dad out of his life, but Honey soon Stevie to try harder if he wants a relationship with his son.

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Who was Jamie Mitchell?

If you were a teenager at the end of the 90s and watched EastEnders you will remember Jamie Mitchell. The soap character was introduced to Albert Square in 1998 as the nephew to Billy Mitchell and was immediately given heartthrob status.

He was a huge hit with the ladies both on and off screen and had a turbulent relationship with Sonia Fowler and Zoe Slater in Walford. But it was Sonia who won Jamie's love in the end.

When Jamie arrived in the Square he was taken in by Phil after it came to light that his uncle Billy was beating and mistreating him. Tragically, Jamie was mowed down by a car driven by love rival Martin Fowler.

After being rushed to hospital, Jamie sustained injuries he would not recover from and died on Christmas Day in 2002 with Sonia by his side. It was a heartbreaking storyline that probably ruined the festive season for some.

Who played Jamie Mitchell?

The character was played by Jack Ryder, from Woolwich, South London. The actor, now 42, joined the cast in 1998 – but was killed off in 2002 after he made the decision to quit.

He said at the time: "I have decided to leave EastEnders after four fantastic years to pursue other projects. It has not been an easy decision but I felt it was time for me to build on the experience the show has given me and play other parts.

"EastEnders gave me the best opportunity a young actor could have dreamed of and I will always be grateful to them." Since leaving EastEnders Ryder, has appeared as evil Evan Crowhurst in Holby City, as well as playing Grant Hill in another BBC soap, Doctors.

He has worked both in front of and behind the camera as well as in theatre, with other appearances including ITV drama MIT: Murder Investigation Team as well as in the Britflick Popcorn which was released in 2007.

On stage he appeared in the West End production of Calendar Girls, also serving as assistant director on the show – and was also involved with the stage productions of The Full Monty as well as Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s musical The Band. Most recently he starred as Frank Turner for two episodes of Silent Witness.

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