YOUNG PHIL & GRANT! Actors Revealed! CAST NEWS! | EastEnders

EastEnders has once again proven why it remains a master of emotional storytelling, as a powerful new flashback episode takes viewers deep into the past and delivers one of the most talked-about moments of the year. This special installment doesn’t just revisit Walford history—it reshapes how fans understand two of its most legendary figures. In a move that has left audiences buzzing, the show finally pulls back the curtain on who plays the younger versions of Phil and Grant Mitchell, and the reveal has been nothing short of sensational.

In Tuesday’s episode, now streaming on BBC iPlayer, Daniel Delaney and Teddy Jay step back into the iconic roles of young Phil and Grant Mitchell. Their return instantly sparked excitement, but the impact of their performances goes far beyond simple nostalgia. With striking accuracy and emotional depth, the actors manage to embody the raw energy, simmering anger, and unspoken vulnerability that defined the Mitchell brothers long before they became Walford’s most feared names.

This flashback episode is framed through the deeply moving perspective of Nigel Bates, portrayed by Paul Bradley, who has been living with dementia since his diagnosis last year. Nigel’s storyline has already been one of EastEnders’ most sensitive and heartbreaking arcs, and this episode leans fully into that emotional weight. After screening a film he created—a personal project filled with fragments of memory and meaning—Nigel seeks solitude in the Queen Vic. But instead of peace, he finds himself slipping into a blurred space where past and present collide.

As Nigel sits quietly, Walford begins to transform around him. The familiar pub becomes a gateway to the 1990s, pulling both Nigel and the audience into a version of the Square that feels hauntingly real. Faces long gone reappear before his eyes, including Pat Butcher, her stepson Barry, and Nigel’s late wife Debbie, who tragically died in 1995. Each encounter lands with emotional force, reminding viewers of the enduring scars left by love, loss, and time.

Then comes the moment that sent shockwaves through the fanbase: Nigel encounters the young Mitchell brothers. Daniel Delaney and Teddy Jay appear as Phil and Grant during their formative years, seamlessly weaving themselves into Walford’s past. The effect is chilling and poignant all at once. These aren’t caricatures or surface-level impressions—they feel like fully formed young men standing on the edge of becoming the legends viewers know today.

Fans were quick to praise the casting, with many noting the uncanny resemblance to Steve McFadden and Ross Kemp. Daniel Delaney captures Phil’s posture, voice, and quiet intensity with remarkable precision, while Teddy Jay channels Grant’s explosive energy and simmering bravado. Together, they recreate the volatile chemistry that defined the Mitchell brothers from the very beginning.

This isn’t the first time audiences have seen Delaney and Jay in these roles. The pair originally appeared in a Mitchell flashback episode in 2022, alongside Jaime Winstone as a young Peggy Mitchell. Earlier this year, they returned once again as part of Phil’s powerful mental health storyline during EastEnders’ 40th anniversary celebrations. Each appearance has added new layers to the Mitchell saga, and this latest episode cements their place in the show’s history.

What makes these portrayals so compelling is that they don’t rely on imitation alone. Daniel Delaney, now 28, brings a thoughtful complexity to young Phil Mitchell, highlighting the internal struggles beneath the tough exterior. His physical and vocal similarities to Steve McFadden are striking, but it’s the emotional nuance that truly stands out. Viewers see a teenage Phil shaped by hardship, responsibility, and the pressures of family loyalty during a turbulent time in Britain’s history.

Daniel’s background reflects his versatility as an actor. He has appeared in small roles across television and film, including the BAFTA-nominated comedy We Are Lady Parts, short film projects, and voice work for the 2019 Elton John biopic Rocketman. He has also featured in a Sam Fender music video and commercials for major brands such as Gumtree, Uber Eats, and Amazon Prime Video. Trained in theatre arts at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, and further developed at the Arnold School of Dance and Drama, Daniel brings both technical skill and emotional insight to the role.

Reflecting on portraying young Phil, Daniel explained that audiences often see Phil as a hardened gangster, a symbol of machismo and intimidation. But this episode reminds viewers that Phil’s identity didn’t emerge overnight. His journey from a teenage boy navigating economic hardship and family pressure is essential to understanding the man he becomes. By exploring those early years—particularly during the late 1970s, a time marked by social and financial struggle—EastEnders offers crucial context to Phil’s later choices, flaws, and survival instincts.

Opposite him, Teddy Jay delivers an equally powerful performance as young Grant Mitchell. With training from Rose Bruford College, Teddy brings a strong theatrical foundation to the role, blending Grant’s trademark toughness with moments of vulnerability that hint at the emotional volatility beneath the surface. His previous work includes stage performances and short film roles, and his television debut came with the 2022 Mitchell flashback episode.

Teddy’s career is clearly on the rise, with an upcoming role as Jack Steel in a gritty crime thriller starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson. In EastEnders, however, he fully inhabits Grant’s world, capturing the brother’s aggression, loyalty, and inner conflict. His portrayal provides a fascinating counterbalance to Phil, showing how the brothers’ bond was forged through shared struggle, rivalry, and an unspoken need to protect one another.

Together, Delaney and Jay don’t just recreate young versions of iconic characters—they expand them. Their performances deepen the Mitchell family dynamic, offering insight into how love, fear, pride, and circumstance shaped two men who would later dominate Walford through sheer force of will.

The brilliance of this flashback episode lies in how it intertwines personal memory with broader social context. Nigel’s fractured perception becomes the lens through which viewers experience the past, making each moment feel fragile and fleeting. As his memories blur, the episode asks powerful questions about identity, legacy, and what remains when time erodes the present.

For longtime fans, seeing young Phil and Grant again is more than a nostalgic thrill. It reframes decades of storylines, encouraging viewers to reconsider moments they thought they fully understood. The pressures faced by the Mitchells in their youth—economic uncertainty, family expectations, and survival instincts—cast a long shadow over their future actions.

This episode is also a reminder that even Walford’s most formidable figures were once vulnerable, uncertain, and shaped by forces beyond their control. Phil and Grant’s early years reveal defining moments that echo into the present, reinforcing the idea that no character exists in isolation from their past.

In true EastEnders fashion, the episode balances drama, tension, and emotional resonance with subtlety and care. It doesn’t rely on shock alone but builds its impact through layered storytelling and strong performances. By grounding the flashbacks in Nigel’s emotional journey, the show ensures that every scene carries weight and meaning.

For fans, Daniel Delaney and Teddy Jay’s return confirms why the Mitchells remain central to EastEnders lore. Their portrayals breathe new life into familiar stories, offering fresh perspective while honoring the legacy of characters that have defined the show for decades.

As the credits roll, one thing is clear: this isn’t just a flashback—it’s a masterclass in soap storytelling. With emotional depth, rich characterization, and a powerful sense of history, the episode lingers long after the screen fades to black. EastEnders once again proves that its greatest strength lies in its ability to connect past and present, reminding viewers that every legend has a beginning, and every choice leaves a lasting mark.

Thank you.