EastEnders legend Phil Mitchell could be set for a heartbreaking exit from the BBC soap, as fans have claimed his departure is “sealed” after being left heartbroken.

EastEnders’ stalwart Phil Mitchell, portrayed by Steve McFadden, could be on the brink of a heart-wrenching departure, according to avid fans.

The character, who first graced our screens in 1990, has been at the heart of some of the BBC soap’s most memorable plots.

Phil is best known as the son of Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor), and brother to Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and Sam Mitchell (Danniella Westbrook).

He’s also notorious for his numerous romantic entanglements with various inhabitants of Albert Square, located in the fictitious East London borough of Walford.

Recently, life in Walford has been anything but quiet for Phil. Last year, he discovered he was the secret father of Sharon Watts’ (Letitia Dean) child Albie, while his other son Ben (Max Bowden) was incarcerated in the US, reports the Daily Star.

The unexpected arrival of distant relative Stevie Mitchell (Alan Ford) earlier this year further stirred the pot. Convinced that Billy’s (Perry Fenwick) father Stevie was “scum”, Phil even planted stolen money on him in an attempt to frame him.

In Wednesday’s episode (July 10), Stevie revealed a shocking family secret – that Billy’s mother didn’t abandon Billy as he had been led to believe, but rather took her own life after Stevie had an affair with Teddy’s mother.

A distraught Billy then discovered that Phil had set up Stevie. Enraged, he confronted Phil, accusing him of sabotaging potential relationships with his newfound family members.

Billy Mitchell defiantly told Phil Mitchell: “I’m not the runt of the litter anymore,” before boldly declaring: “You are” and dramatically exiting, leaving a solitary Phil behind.

EastEnders enthusiasts are now bracing themselves for a gut-wrenching plot twist for Phil – one that might signal his departure from the show. On social media platform X, fans speculated he could succumb to old habits, with one concerned viewer posting: “I wonder if Phil’s loneliness storyline might lead to him having a relapse at some point.”

Another fan expressed their worries, commenting: “Feel like this leading to an exit storyline where Phil is going to go back on the bottle and drink himself to death with no one round him hope that’s not the case because Phil is Eastenders to me but be great for Steve to enjoy retirement.”

A third chimed in: “I think we’ve been in the midst of a Phil loneliness story for a while without realising. He’s felt like the hanger on to Billy’s unit since he and Kat split, he’s lost Ben, alienated Jay and Cal, Sharon is wary and even Denise feels sorry for him! Next step? A relapse! “.

Yet another viewer suggested: “I think we’re going to get some kind of depression storyline coming for Phil especially this week. I’ve seen that he’s going to slowly starting to push everyone away and he’s going to start isolating himself from everyone.”