EastEnders teams up with comic relief for mental health minisode

EastEnders is working with Comic Relief this Red Nose Day on an exclusive 5-minute episode that will focus on Phil’s mental health and the importance of treatment.

During last month’s 40th anniversary of EastEnders, viewers witnessed Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) in a dark moment, attempting to take his own life.

With the encouragement of friends Nigel Bates and Linda Carter, he recognised the need for help and was admitted to a mental health unit.

Whilst at the mental health unit, Phil makes friends with a patient called Andy (Jake Rory) who shares details of his time at a homeless youth hostel, and the pair soon realise that they have more in common than they first anticipated.

Chris Clenshaw, EastEnders Executive Producer said: 

“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.”

EastEnders and Comic Relief have consulted with Brandon Centre, a Comic Relief funded charity which focuses on youth mental help support to ensure the storyline has been handled as sensitively and as accurately as possible.

The special episode will debut exclusively in Comic Relief: Funny For Money, the spectacular night of TV celebrating 40 years of Comic Relief’s fundraising on Friday 21st March.

Julia Brown, CEO Brandon Centre said:

“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.”

The minisode will follow a previously announced special episode of EastEnders guest starring Keith Allen, set across four weeks that will focus on Phil’s journey in the mental health unit on Thursday 20th March at 7:30pm on BBC One and 6am on BBC iPlayer.

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.”