Jaime Winstone returning to EastEnders to play a younger Peggy Mitchell

The upcoming episode will be part of Phil’s ongoing mental health storyline.

It has today been announced that Jaime Winstone will reprise the role of Peggy Mitchell as she returns to EastEnders in an upcoming episode as part of Phil’s ongoing mental health storyline.

Recently, EastEnders revealed details about a new mental health storyline that will see Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, attempt to take his own life whilst experiencing depression with psychotic symptoms.

Having withdrawn from his family and friends in recent months following Sharon’s newfound relationship with his cousin Teddy, the breakdown of his marriage to Kat, and Ben’s incarceration in America, viewers will continue to see Phil’s mental health decline as he attempts to hide his depression from those around him.

The storyline will follow Phil, and the characters closest to him, as he reaches crisis point and starts to believe his life is no longer worth living.

As Phil’s depression takes hold and his psychotic symptoms intensify, he'll experience symptoms of psychosis in the form of hallucinations, depicting scenes from the Mitchell family home in 1985.

During his hallucinations, Phil will act as a bystander to a pivotal moment from his adolescence. As Phil’s negative internal dialogue worsens, the hallucinations will also transcend into Phil’s life as he starts to converse with the characters from his past, as well as his former younger self back in Walford in The Square and at No.55.

Also returning to the roles they played in a special Mitchell flashback episode in September 2022, will be George Russo as Eric Mitchell, Daniel Delaney as Phil Mitchell and Teddy Jay as Grant Mitchell. They'll be joined by Sam Miles, who joins to play a young Nigel Bates.

Speaking about her return, Jaime Winstone said "It was such an honour to be welcomed back to play Peggy Mitchell, she is a dream role for me; so to be able to contribute to this iconic family on this major storyline has been such a joyous and emotional journey and I truly hope I have done her justice. Thank you to all the EastEnders family, this has been such a wonderful experience."

To which Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw, added "We are thrilled to welcome back the young Mitchells for these special scenes as we lead up to our 40th anniversary week. In 2022 fans and critics alike celebrated Jaime’s portrayal of Peggy, and with Phil’s story, this feels like the perfect time for her to reprise the iconic role – joined once again by George, Daniel, Teddy and now Sam as a young Nigel."

"Flashbacks like these give the audience a unique opportunity to better understand Phil’s mindset and the traumatic events that have led him to his mental health crisis."

EastEnders is working closely with The Samaritans, Rethink Mental Illness, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), and Mind to ensure Phil’s depression story is portrayed as accurately and as sensitively as possible.

EastEnders continues Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One with first look episodes available from 6am on BBC iPlayer