Billy Mitchell

**William "Billy" Mitchell** is the son of Stephen and Janet Mitchell, the brother of Charlie Mitchell, the ex-husband of Little Mo Slater and Honey Edwards, father of Dan Pearce, Janet and Will Mitchell, and grandfather of Lola Pearce-Brown and great-grandfather of Lexi Pearce.

Billy is often seen as the outcast of the Mitchell family, often being belittled by his own this is due to his cowardly personality. However, Billy has often stood up to his family when necessary. He was a scally in his early days, causing trouble when he arrived in Walford. It's then revealed he used to look after (as well as often hit) Jamie Mitchell, an act Billy has shown remorse for countless times. Billy was a drug dealer at one point and often sold to his boss, Steve Owen, who was addicted to the supply.

Billy had a long term relationship with Little Mo, which prompted a feud with Mo's evil husband Trevor Morgan. Billy also had a feud with gangster Andy Hunter who he thought wasn't good enough for his cousin, Sam Hunter. Billy then had a relationship with Honey Mitchell, however, this failed both times. Like most of the Mitchell's, Billy has committed his fair share of crimes from fake robberies to arson.

Billy has shown a cowardly nature, the primary example of this is in August 2008 when he saw the death of his friend, Jase Dyer, after he was attacked by gangsters and fatally stabbed. This led to Nick Cotton finding out and Billy began to crumble but when Jay Brown was kidnapped by the gang Billy showed bravery by attempting to fight them off before. Later, the guilt of Billy led him to take Jay under his wing and in July 2011, Billy's granddaughter, Lola Pearce arrived and started living with Billy.

## Biography

### 1959-1998: Backstory

William Mitchell was born on the 3rd May 1959 in London to Stephen Mitchell and Janet Mitchell. Billy was the youngest of two sons. He had a brother Charlie Mitchell born in about 1956. Billy's parents left him in a children's home, where the staff physically abused him. When his brother and sister-in-law died, Billy became the guardian of their son Jamie and vented his anger on him. When Billy's distant cousin Phil Mitchell realised what was happening, he took Jamie in, and Billy learnt from his mistakes.

### 1998-2000: Arrival

Billy moves to Walford, initially getting involved in criminal scams with Phil and Grant Mitchell. His relatives see him as little more than a lackey, and he is frequently told that he is an embarrassment to the Mitchell name. Billy finds an ally in Steve Owen, who uses him as an errand boy in numerous criminal activities including drug-dealing, to oppress the Mitchell brothers. Billy works at Steve's club, E20, and is given a 1% share of the club for his services, but is often torn between his loyalties to Steve and his family.

### 2001-2002: Relationships

Billy fell for Janine Butcher in 2001, but she is only interested in his money, and when that runs out, she leaves him. Nevertheless, Billy helps her get over some psychological problems later that year, leading her to hope for reconciliation; Billy turns her down as he has fallen for Little Mo Morgan, his business partner in a cleaning company. Mo is being abused by her husband, Trevor, and it is not until Mo leaves him that Billy and Mo start a relationship. Billy proposes to Mo by spelling out 'MARRY ME' on her plate with alphabet spaghetti, and they get engaged. When Trevor discovers this, he kidnaps Mo but is killed the same night in a gas explosion. Billy and Mo marry on Christmas Day 2002, the same day that Jamie dies of severe injuries after being knocked down by a car. Eleven months after their wedding, Little Mo is raped by Graham Foster. She later discovers she is pregnant as a result of the assault. Billy presses her to have an abortion, but Mo refuses. She leaves Walford to clear her head and comes home with baby Freddie in tow, to see Graham convicted of rape. Billy and Little Mo reunite, but Billy confesses that he cannot love Freddie and thinks of Graham whenever he sees him, so the marriage ends.

In 2002, Billy confronted one of his abusers from the children's home he was placed in as a child, Ernie Johnson, now a pensioner and living in Walford. Billy breaks into Ernie's house to confront him over the abuse, shaming Ernie into moving away.

### 2005-2008: First relationship to Honey

Billy starts a relationship with newcomer Honey Edwards in November 2005, whom he manages during her spell as a model. The relationship prospers, despite initial disapproval from Honey's father Jack, who takes time to accept Billy. Honey falls pregnant in January 2006 and accepts Billy's marriage proposal. Their wedding is postponed when Honey is hospitalised; they re-schedule, but the second ceremony goes awry due to a practical joke played on Billy during his stag night. Billy's aunt, Peggy, then arranged a surprise wedding in September 2006. Billy and Honey complete their vows when Honey goes into labour. She delivers a girl, Janet, but the Mitchell's then discover she has Down's Syndrome. Honey rejects her baby; she goes into depression, contemplating infanticide and demands Janet be put up for adoption. Billy is opposed to this but eventually consents after agonising over the decision. After Janet is taken into foster care, she suffers a health scare and is hospitalised, forcing Honey to acknowledge she loves her baby and Janet is brought home.

Honey falls pregnant again, and William was born in November 2007. His birth is traumatic as Honey goes into labour after being caught up in a violent siege; she is assaulted by a member of a football firm lead by Terry Bates. William seems to be stillborn at first but is resuscitated by medics. In December 2007, Billy and Honey suffered monetary problems; their landlady, Manju Patel, decides to evict them. Billy steals charity money to pay the rent and barricades them into the flat, but they are nevertheless evicted at Christmas. They rely on the kindness of friends and relatives until the council re-houses them.

### 2008-2010: The murder of Jase Dyer

Desperate for money, Billy takes on a job as a getaway driver for Jase Dyer, believing they are stealing money from Terry Bates, the leader of the firm responsible for hurting Honey. The position is a set-up, and Terry takes Jase's son, Jay Brown, hostage in their absence. With Billy's help, Jay escapes, but Terry kills Jase in the ensuing fight. Billy hides in the bathroom, too afraid to help Jase. Not realising this, Jay hails Billy, a hero for trying to rescue his father. Billy breaks down and confesses his cowardice to Honey, revealing that he kept some of Jase's money, allegedly to give to now orphaned Jay. Honey is incensed; she threatens to leave Billy but reconsiders on condition he never lies to her again. Billy does lie and keeps some of Jase's money, telling Honey he has donated it to charity. Honey subsequently ends their marriage and takes her children to live with her father, leaving Billy alone and depressed.

In October 2008, Billy visited Jay at his foster home and agreed to foster him, but problems arise in 2009 when Nick Cotton blackmails Billy, threatening to tell Jay the truth about his cowardice on the night of Jase's death. Unable to meet Nick's demands, Billy is forced to tell Jay the truth instead, and Jay reacts in a fury. Terry's gang try to stop Billy testifying at the upcoming trial, but despite threats, Billy vows to result in Terry receiving life imprisonment for murdering Jase. Billy is subsequently redeemed in the eyes of Jay; however, Jay later begins to idolise Phil, to the virtual exclusion of Billy.

### 2010-2014: Becoming a Grandfather

When Billy stops a man from pestering Jean Slater at a club, she brands him a hero, and they sleep together. Embarrassed by the fling, Billy insults Jean the following day, ending her hopes for romance. Billy later begins a more serious relationship with Julie Perkins, a fellow resident at the children's home he once lived in. Billy is shocked to discover Julie fell pregnant with his child in their teens; their son was adopted and is now a grown man. Billy attempts to find his son, Dan Pearce but is devastated to discover he has died of liver failure and that his granddaughter, Lola Pearce, is in care. Billy visits Lola, and they bond. Lola moves in with her grandparents, but she proves troublesome. When Billy continuously overrules Julie's attempts to discipline her, a rift forms between the couple, causing Julie to leave Walford. Lola's announcement that she is pregnant leads to Billy returning to criminality to provide for his great-grandchild—stealing from his employer Janine, and trading stolen goods and forgeries for Derek Branning. Lola gives birth to a baby girl, Lexi Pearce, and Billy tries his best to support the pair. Billy gets a job working for the local funeral directors Coker & Sons. He forms a close relationship with his employers, Les and Pam Coker. When Honey returns announcing her plan to move to Canada with Janet and William. Billy is left distraught. In a fit of madness, he burns Janet's passport and, even though she is left angry, Honey allows Janet to stay with her father.

In the chippy, Lucy walks in on Billy stealing fish. As Lee heads down Bridge Street he clocks Lucy and Billy's argument. Lucy tells Billy that she’ll have to inform Ian of his stealing. Back in his flat, Billy retrieves his folder full of Lucy pictures and hastily shoves them under the fridge when he hears the door go. It's a morose Peter who's arrived, and when Billy leaves the room, Peter retrieves a bag of cocaine from his pocket. At Billy's, Peter begins to line up some cocaine but swiftly hides it on Billy's return and when Billy disappears off to the kitchen, Peter blows it away. The killer is later revealed to be Bobby Beale.

### 2015-2022: Second relationship with Honey and relationship with Karen Taylor

Billy runs into the Beales' and informs the guests of Ronnie Mitchell and Charlie Cotton's wedding that there's been an accident and Ronnie's gone into labour. Emma Summerhayes's phone rings and she tells the person on the line that she knows they killed Lucy Beale so they need to stop negotiating. She agrees to talk to them but then declares that they must go to the police station afterwards. As Emma ends her phone call, Peter Beale, Ian Beale, Jane Beale, Masood Ahmed, Lee Carter, Cindy Williams, Whitney Dean, Denise Fox, Abi Branning, Lauren Branning, Les, Lola, Jay, Ben and Billy are all seen with their phones. Phil's car pulls up on the Square, Phil and Billy arguing hotly. Inside, Billy tries to dissuade Phil from seeing Ian. At Phil's, a man arrives with a bouquet of white roses. Phil orders the man to leave, who insists he's here for Ronnie. Billy informs him that Ronnie's in hospital.

In July 2015, Billy's granddaughter, Lola leaves Walford with her daughter, Lexi.

Later that year, in November, Billy is surprised when Honey returns to the Square. Billy promises Honey that he's changed. Les offers some words of support to Billy.

In January 2016, Billy thanks the police outside Number 3C, who was there after Stacey Slater was suffering from postpartum depression, and he prepares to collect Charlie Slater's body. Billy explains to Patrick Trueman that Charlie had a heart attack. Charlie's body is covered with a sheet on the sofa. Billy stares at him clutching the body bag, waiting for his work colleague to arrive. Alfie Moon offers to help him after Kat Moon and Mo Harris have taken the children out of the room. Billy struggles when getting Charlie ready for his funeral and Les comforts him. In the Vic, Pam bumps into Billy, Patrick and Les taste test Babe Smith's jellied eels for the wake. Billy is concerned that Charlie looks his absolute best. Billy and Honey get engaged and have a party to celebrate.

In December 2017, Billy came up to Mick and asked for the use of the upstairs bathroom, as the pub's public restroom has a "dodgy ballcock". Mick allows him to. Mick overhears Aidan shouting "Yes, that's the Queen Victoria pub in Albert Square" down the phone. Aidan says that he has bought Mick a present, to Mick's mocking. Aidan shouts to Whitney and asks her if he gave her a present to give to Mick yesterday. Whitney says yes, and explains she placed it under the Christmas tree upstairs. Aidan tells Mick it is a gun and that he "felt duty-bound to report it to the police". He explains he has around 10 minutes to get rid of it. Mick runs upstairs to find it, but can't. He asks Aidan desperately to tell him where it is. Aidan gives him a clue, and he finds it just as the police arrive. He hands it to Billy, who is returning from his toilet trip, and tells him to leave and give it to Phil. Billy does so. When Billy gives Phil the gun, Phil jumps back, thinking Billy is going to shoot him, but he takes it from a trembling Billy. Billy discovers Adam Bateman is having an affair with Habiba Ahmed and attempts to tell Honey Mitchell, with whom he is still in love with. Honey yells at Billy and accuses him of trying to destroy her and Adam's relationship because he is jealous. Billy also informs Mariam and Arshad about the affair, but Arshad orders him to get out. Billy later hires Karen Taylor as a bartender; however, he soon realizes that Karen is not cut out for the job. Billy then discovers that Karen is in trouble with Ben and tries to help sort it.