EastEnders fans set for shock plot twist as show’s hard man Phil Mitchell is HURT in huge gas explosion
EASTENDERS fans are finally getting the drama they crave after I revealed show bosses were set to take the soap in an explosive direction.
But the latest plot twist could have some serious consequences for one of the show’s best-loved stars.
The future of hard man Phil Mitchell, played by STEVE McFADDEN, will hang in the balance when a massive gas explosion rips through Albert Square this week.
My exclusive photo shows the mechanic unconscious, covered in rubble and dirt, in the aftermath of the blast.
A source said: “The stunt is certainly going to have viewers talking.
“It has taken months of planning and several of the show’s favourite characters will be affected by it. Bosses are staying tight-lipped about who actually dies but the shockwaves from this will be going on for months.”
The explosive storyline comes as the soap heads for a major overhaul after Sean O’Connor — who lasted only a year as exec producer – quit the BBC1 show.
He was replaced by former show boss John Yorke in June.
John, who did the job from 2000 to 2002 and again in 2005, was responsible for hits such as the notorious Who Shot Phil? storyline, which drew more than 22million viewers in 2001.
During his 27 years as one of soaps’ nastiest villains, Phil has provided some of EastEnders’ most memorable moments.
Albert Square might never be the same again.
READ ON FOR THE REST OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE TV COLUMN
Must watch
WHAT? Strike, BBC1, 9pm.
WHY? The adaptation of the J.K. ROWLING crime novel continues as private eye Strike makes his way through cafes, pubs and an upmarket restaurant as he bids to crack the case of a model’s murder.
Peepers Reunited
PEEP Show fans were left mourning the cult comedy’s end in 2015.
But its stars DAVID MITCHELL and ROBERT WEBB are reuniting for a new Channel 4 sitcom called Back.
My exclusive pics show the pair with cast members LOUISE BREALEY, GEOFF McGIVERN and PENNY DOWNIE ahead of the show’s debut on September 6.
David plays divorced, downtrodden Stephen, while Robert plays eager-to-please Andrew.
The pair find themselves scrapping over the running of a pub when Stephen’s father, the landlord, dies suddenly.
Comparing his new character to Peep Show’s Mark Corrigan, David said: “Stephen was always going to have a bit of that hectoring nerdiness to him. But at his core, he’s quite different. Stephen is a good, weak man and Mark, ultimately, is quite bad and quite strong.”
It’s great to see these two back in action together.
Biz Bits
ONLY Fools And Horses funnyman NICHOLAS LYNDHURST revealed he was nearly sacked because he couldn’t stop laughing during the chandelier scene.
He recalled: “Our producer said: ‘If you laugh, that’s the entire scene blown’.”
RJ MITTE – Walter White Jr in Breaking Bad – is gunning for his own spin- off show.
He said: “I would like see how Walt Junior has evolved. It was a big part of my life. There’s a specific direction that I would like to happen.”
Len: Old is now TV Gold
AFTER 12 years in the top seat of Saturday night telly, LEN GOODMAN deserves a rest.
But the former Strictly judge shows no signs of slowing down and says he is up for “any new challenges” which come his way.
After taking on BBC1 quiz show Partners in Rhyme, which had its second episode aired on Saturday night, Len believes the outlook for older stars is the best it has been.
“I’ve got so much energy at my age because I’ve got a healthy mind and a healthy body. It’s about giving yourself new challenges.
“If BRUCE FORSYTH could do it at 85, I’m only a young whippersnapper at 73.”
And it seems the late Brucie’s showbiz sparkle has rubbed off on his new show.
He added: “Like Bruce I had a catchphrase, ‘If you’ve got the time, Len’s got the rhyme,’ that the audience shouted back to me – and having a live audience really helped.”
Despite his best efforts, Len’s new project received mixed reactions on Twitter after the first episode.
Maybe a version of Brucie’s famous “thinker” pose could help make things better.
Soapbox
SHIRLEY struggles to convince Linda that Mick is over Whitney in EASTENDERS – and tries to prove her point by throwing a big lunch, inviting everyone along.
But the gathering quickly descends into farce when Linda has too much to drink and winds up Mick by flirting with Woody.
Things get worse when she lets her anger get the better of her and ends up telling Woody what has been going on.
Meanwhile, Lauren breaks down and tells Steven she can’t keep supporting him alone any more.
In CORONATION STREET, Gary tells Sarah he has accepted another job in the Ukraine. She is horrified but Gary lies to her and makes out the risk is minimal.
Later, Gary tries to hide his pain when he takes off his T-shirt to reveal his badly bruised back and ribs.
Caro's Apple of her eye
LOVE Island only finished a month ago, but host CAROLINE FLACK is already throwing herself into her next project.
Instead of treating herself to some time off, the TV presenter is already touring her new musical Crazy For You, which travels around the country until December.
She made her stage debut opposite fellow Strictly Come Dancing winner TOM CHAMBERS in the Broadway hit featuring classic songs including I Got Rhythm, Someone To Watch Over Me and Embraceable You.
On Saturday the telly star, who trained in musical theatre, treated fans to this Instagram snap from her dressing room at the Plymouth Theatre Royal.
Judging by the lipstick heart she scrawled on her mirror, Caroline hasn’t forgotten her Love Island experience.