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
Steve Owen (EastEnders) I said no so I could feel what it was really like. My wrists were raw by the end of it and I was exhausted, but that was the challenge I wanted." Kemp decided to leave "EastEnders" at the end of his contract in 2002, to move from the BBC to rival station ITV. He said of his decision: "I have had a wonderful time at "EastEnders" and I will be very sad to leave, but I feel that its time to move on." It was reported that "EastEnders" producers decided to kill off his character as "revenge" for how