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
Paul Ross Saturday mid morning show on BBC Radio Berkshire, 8am till 11am. In November 2006, he caused controversy by announcing an upcoming "EastEnders" Christmas storyline on his LBC show, causing his mother, Martha Ross, who told him the storyline, to be sacked from her job as an extra on "EastEnders". Since then his mother has jokingly refused to speak to Paul unless, as she stated in a 2007 Radio Times interview, he presents her with some Ann Summers lingerie. Ross broadcast "Paul Ross Full Set Breakfast" from 6-10 am on talkRADIO, a new talk radio station which launched on 21 March