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EE: Billy 'crowd scene' Mitchell


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Old 08-11-2015, 12:42
Tony_Daniels
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In the Honey thread it occurred to me, why is Billy Mitchell still there? He doesn't seem to do anything other than be in the background during a Mitchell family crisis meeting, often sitting in the corner making a snide remark to Ben or Jay until Phil glares at him and he looks at his feet in shame.

I don't get what the point of the character is.

He also seems to be another character who prevents others from growing. Let's imagine Billy is the same age as the actor, and in his 50s. He's doing jobs and effectively filling a role that could be better designated elsewhere. They have 'kids' in their 20s and beyond not doing much other than living at home getting under their parents feet. Why can't one of them be Les's assistant at the funeral parlour or work in the chippy or be an odd-job man?

It's just like Kat an Alfie. If you were to write the characters of Kat an Alfie from scratch: turbulent on/off marriage, young kids, struggling to meet ends meet, husband a bit of a wheeler-dealer chancer who always has his eye out for a dodgy deal - you'd typically imagine two characters in their late 20s early 30s wouldn't you?

Same with Billy Mitchell - runty member of the Mitchell clan, bit dim, works in the chippy, an apprentice at a funeral home....again, if you were coming at this without knowing anything about EastEnders wouldn't you picture a guy about 28?
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Old 08-11-2015, 12:52
Broken_Arrow
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It's not his age I have an issue with. It's the fact he's been a spare part for about 20 years. The actor must be really popular on the set because the character has not justified his continued existence in years.
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Old 08-11-2015, 12:55
vald
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Babe...homeless and cooking in her nephew's? pub.
Cora...just homeless
Tracey...barmaid. Surely a young person could do this, and cheaper.
Charlie...cleaner, car salesman
Roxy...working on a curry stall
Carol...worked in a cafe

I could go on, but I won't. If you're looking for high achievers in Walford you're out of luck. Most of them just muddle through doing menial work because that's all that's available.

Billy's had some big s/l over the years but has been wasted for years. Maybe Honey's return will mean he will be used more. Perry's acting is certainly up to it.
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Old 08-11-2015, 13:02
wizardt
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Billy has always been a spare part and I don't know why he's still in EE.
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Old 08-11-2015, 14:28
Adrian_Ward1
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Billy needs his family around him. Then we can watch him grow
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Old 08-11-2015, 14:42
Broken_Arrow
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Billy needs his family around him. Then we can watch him grow
He's had that several times, most recently with Lola, and still didn't grow as a character. We've seen all there is to see with Billy Mitchell. Anyone else who'd spent that long on the outskirts of a storyline would have been axed. Just look at Fatboy.
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Old 08-11-2015, 14:58
Hankshaw
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They had potentially a good family unit with Billy, Julie, Lola and Jay.

Then they decided to axe Julie just as her granddaughter had entered. Decide against Jay and Lola. Now to finish it off Lola has been axed.

I'm surprised Perry Fenwick doesn't question what the writers intentions for his character are. They're now going backwards by bringing back Honey but I wonder how long that will last before he's on his own again.
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Old 08-11-2015, 15:09
East2DaEnderz
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At least he didnt burn down his house cause he heard the idea at a local BBQ *cough cough cough cough cough Alfie moon cough*
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Old 08-11-2015, 15:32
idgwiat
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You can't have everyone as winners, you need also rans as well. The likes of Billy for me, make it more real.
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Old 08-11-2015, 15:47
sw2963
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It's not his age I have an issue with. It's the fact he's been a spare part for about 20 years. The actor must be really popular on the set because the character has not justified his continued existence in years.
Apparently he is one of the highest paid actors on EE according to FMs
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Old 08-11-2015, 16:13
chessie__x
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Billy and babe. I'm shipping them
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Old 08-11-2015, 18:16
cobis
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You can't have everyone as winners, you need also rans as well. The likes of Billy for me, make it more real.
exactly this, you need to have characters like Billy who just potter about getting on with their lives, occasionally we get to see a bigger glimpse into their lives but they still have a role to play, Billy has kept the Coker's storylines moving along with his minor interactions in their lives, he provided a home for Lola and Lexi so they weren't forced to live in Mitchell Mansions, he has been behind the counter at the chippie to serve when other characters have scenes there and we know Ian is elsewhere, he makes up the numbers at parties and actually he has had some really good scenes with the aftermath of Little Mo and Graham, Honey and Janet, Jay following Jase's death and the issue of him being there at the time, Billy has a deserved place in EastEnders
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Old 08-11-2015, 18:18
Collins1965
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Waste of space Billy should have been axed years ago. Instead we now have Honey coming back to try once more to give the character some raison d'etre. Yawn.
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Old 08-11-2015, 18:20
Fallon9
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Billy is boring. I literally have zero interest in watching any of his scenes. If I was EP I'd axe him.
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Old 08-11-2015, 18:20
Hound of Love
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Waste of space Billy should have been axed years ago. Instead we now have Honey coming back to try once more to give the character some raison d'etre. Yawn.
I can't disagree with any of this.
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Old 08-11-2015, 18:31
piggypug
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Perry Fenwick is probably just happy to get a wage.
He already said that he didn't want to be Lucy's killer because he'd be out of a job.
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Old 08-11-2015, 18:37
Makson
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Well he got honoured with running with the Olympic touch through the square, so the EE execs obviously love him and think he is a very popular character.
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Old 08-11-2015, 21:42
joe gillott
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Should of been axed when kittle mo left or before her arrival.
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Old 08-11-2015, 21:43
Adrian_Ward1
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Eastenders should keep their long term cast
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