Steve Owen (EastEnders) in feuds with dangerous adversaries Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and his brother Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Dan Sullivan (Craig Fairbrass), with both feuds stemming from their connections to Steve's girlfriend and future wife Mel Healy (Tamzin Outhwaite). During 2001, Steve was involved in one of the most memorable storylines ever to air on "EastEnders", when he became a prime suspect in the "Who Shot Phil?" whodunit storyline. Martin Kemp quit the series after his contract to the show expired. His final scenes, which aired on 1 March 2002, saw Steve killed during a fierce car chase with archenemy Phil
Grant Mitchell (EastEnders) vulnerability. In 2009, a poll by magazine "Inside Soap" named Grant as the UK's favourite leading male character in a soap opera. Although popular with many viewers, the character has garnered criticism, mainly regarding the way his anti-social behaviour is sensationalised by the programme makers. In November 2005 the character was blamed for turning children into playground bullies by Dr. Sally Henry, who claimed that impressionable children look to male soap characters as role models and subsequently copy their violent behaviour. In addition, the character's predisposition to violence has allegedly been criticised by actor Ross Kemp. In 1998, press reports