Billy Mitchell (EastEnders) revealed in 2006 that the role was extended by "coincidence and chance": "I was offered four episodes and here I am, about 800 later. [...] Ross Kemp (Grant) said that he was leaving, and there was a gap in the Mitchell family, so they brought me back to do stuff towards his leaving. After that they offered me a year." Billy was reintroduced in 1999, making recurring appearances. He was involved in the leaving storyline of Grant Mitchell in October 1999, before returning later in the year as a regular character. When Billy was first introduced, he was depicted as
EastEnders in popular culture Other Way" by The Streets, and Tippa Irie's 'Complain Neighbour' "EastEnders" is referred to in John Godber's play "Teechers". The drama students, Gail, Salty and Hobby, say that they have acted out a part of "EastEnders", quoting "Hello, Arfur... All right, my love". When "Emmerdale" actor Nick Miles (who plays Jimmy King) starred in a play at the Edinburgh Festival called "Meeting Joe Strummer", his character was from Walford. Miles said in an interview that his character was originally going to be from the village of Emmerdale, but it was changed to Walford for fun. During the 1990s, whilst on