Who plays Billy Mitchell in EastEnders? What is Perry Fenwick’s net worth and what else has the soap star been in?

EASTENDERS fans have been through the mill with Billy Mitchell, a distant relative of Phil and Grant — who was once described as "a runt of a man who's a catalyst for trouble".

Billy's alter-ego is Perry Fenwick —  and the actor from Canning Town, who turns 56 at the end of May, has been around on telly a lot longer than you may think...here's the lowdown...

How long has Perry been in EastEnders?

Perry has portrayed Billy on 'Enders since 1998, and unlike many other soap stars, no other performer has portrayed his character.

He'd already appeared in Casualty and The Bill by that time, both springboards for the majority of top telly and film actors.

Among the professions, Perry has had to portray on EastEnders are barman, business manager, market trader, personal assistant, chip shop assistant, modelling agent and undertaker, due to Billy's difficulty in holding down one job.

As of 2017, Perry is the third longest-serving actor in the history of EastEnders (tied with Sid Owen, and behind only Adam Woodyatt and Steve McFadden, all of whom joined in 1985).

What else has he been in?

In the 1980s, Perry stopped doing catalogue modelling and kicked off his TV career with a regular role as Terry in sitcom Watching, alongside the likes of Liza Tarbuck.

The West Ham fanatic went out with Watching co-star Emma Wray for several years.

His later TV credits are Inspector Morse, The Brittas Empire, Minder, The Thin Blue Line, and Bergerac.

But Perry has also appeared in several movies through the 80s and 90s — namely Party Party, Mona Lisa, Empire State, The Raggedy Rawney, I.D., The Tichborne Claimant, Janice Beard 45 WPM, The Winslow Boy and G: MT – Greenwich Mean Time.

That's your next movie marathon sorted.

How much is he worth?

In 2008 it was reported Perry was being paid £320,000 a year after a figure of £400,00 a year was made public in 2004.

However, around that time there was some outrage about the amount he and his fellow actors were being paid so it's unlikely his salary has grown a great deal.

Due to the nature of the BBC and its funding, EastEnders stars are not allowed to supplement their income by taking on extra jobs or exploiting their profile for more roles, unlike those on ITV soaps.

Publicly Perry has not had problems with money so it's safe to say he's very comfortably off.

Is Perry single?

Yes, but from 2005 to 2010, Cockney actor was married to Corrie star Angela Lonsdale — known for playing Emma Taylor, Curly Watts' wife.

Perry's marriage proposal had seen him write a message with pebbles on a beach.

The split reportedly shocked everyone working on EastEnders who had heard nothing but "glowing" comments from Perry about Angela right up until their separation.

Anything else we need to know about Perry?

The character of Perry in Kevin and Perry Go Large — a spin-off of 90s TV show Harry Enfield And Chums — was named after the soap fave.

That's because he is good friends with comic and sitcom star Kathy Burke, who played the character of Perry herself.

Chemical Brothers fans may also be impressed by the fact Perry appeared in the video for their song Block-Rockin' Beats.

He's godfather to the son of the 'Enders actor who played Minty, Cliff Parisi, and he also loves gardening as well as playing guitar and drums.