EASTENDERS ANNOUNCES SPECIAL EPISODE FOR COMIC RELIEF FOCUSING ON MENTAL HEALTH

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

For the past few months, EastEnders’ Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) has been at the centre of a mental health storyline which saw his character reach a crisis point when he attempted to take his own life on the EastEnders 40th anniversary as his depression with symptoms of psychosis took hold.

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 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, and will follow a previously announced special EastEnders episode featuring guest star 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.”

Julia Brown, CEO Brandon Centre added: “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.”

Chris Clenshaw, EastEnders Executive Producer said of the storyline: “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.”

The 5-minute episode will feature in Comic Relief: Funny For Money, the spectacular night of TV on Friday 21st March.