Glenda Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Glynis Barber. The character first appeared in the programme on 7 January 2010. She was axed in February 2011 and departed on 8 March 2011. She returned for two episodes in January 2016 and three in May 2016. She made an unannounced return on 30 December 2016 for the departures of her two daughters, and departed herself on 10 February 2017. Glenda has been described as "complex", "vulnerable", "demure, dynamic and assured". She is the former wife of Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb); mother of both her son Danny (Liam Bergin) and Archie's two daughters Ronnie (Samantha Womack) and Roxy (Rita Simons). Jill Gascoine was originally cast to play Glenda but withdrew. Speaking of her step down, Gascoine commented: "I was so looking forward to playing Glenda but having spent the last 15 years working in America – largely acting in single drama and writing fiction – I felt, on arrival, I lacked the right experience to film such a big continuing drama. I have tremendous respect for EastEnders and the cast so I didn't want to let the show or my fellow cast members down." Glenda is the mother of Roxy and Ronnie Mitchell, who she left 21 years before her appearance in the series. In mid-2010, it transpires that Glenda knew about Archie abusing Ronnie. She had sex with her nephew-by-marriage Phil (Steve McFadden) and his stepson Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), before later being accused of having stolen Roxy's money – although it is later revealed that Phil actually stole it. When Glenda reveals Phil's affair to Shirley Carter (Linda Henry), Shirley intimidates Glenda, leading her to leave Walford in March 2011. She returned in January 2016 after Roxy's attempted rape by Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) and in December 2016 for Ronnie's wedding, before leaving again on 10 February 2017.