User:EEfamilytrees/Will Mitchell

Will Mitchell
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Toby Walpole (2007–2014) Freddie Phillips (2015–present)
Duration	2007–2012, 2014–present
First appearance	Episode 3470 13 November 2007
Classification	Present; regular
Created by	Diederick Santer
Introduced by	Diederick Santer (2007) Bryan Kirkwood (2011) Dominic Treadwell-Collins (2014)
Spin-off appearances	Billy's Olympic Nightmare (2012)
In-universe information Occupation Student Family Mitchell Father Billy Mitchell Mother Honey Mitchell Sisters Janet Mitchell Half-brothers Dan Pearce Grandfathers Jack Edwards Stevie Mitchell Uncles Charlie Mitchell Teddy Mitchell Nieces Lola Pearce First cousins Jamie Mitchell Harry Mitchell Barney Mitchell Other relatives Phil Mitchell Sam Mitchell Ronnie Mitchell Roxy Mitchell Ben Mitchell Louise Mitchell Caroline Bishop Lexi Pearce

William "Will" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Toby Walpole on and off from 2007 to 2014 and then Freddie Phillips since 2015. Will was introduced to the serial at his birth in episode 3470, originally broadcasted on 13 November 2007. He was birthed on screen to parents, Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) and Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton).

Will was originally a recurring character before being promoted to regular in early 2024. So far, his early storylines as a recurring character include a childhood modelling career and his crush on Jada Lennox (Kelsey Calladine-Smith). His later storylines include buying vapes from Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), building a relationship with his long-lost grandfather, Stevie Mitchell (Alan Ford) and finding out about Stevie's secret family.

Storylines

2007–2012

In March 2007, Honey finds out she is pregnant again and tells Pat Evans (Pam St Clement), but asks her not to tell Billy. Pat persuades Honey to tell him, but he is distant initially. He soon comes round, following a heart to heart, and admits to being concerned, like Honey, that they would love the new baby more than their daughter Janet Mitchell (Grace) if it did not have Down syndrome, which Janet has. Honey reassures him it will not happen. After this, Billy and Honey agree they want the baby and gradually tell their families. On the due date in November 2007, Honey is knocked over during an incident at The Queen Victoria public house involving Jase Dyer (Stephen Lord), Terry Bates (Nicholas Ball) and Terry's gang of football hooligans, and she goes into labour. When William is born, it seems that he is stillborn because he is not breathing but he pulls through. Honey wants to name him after Billy and feels guilty about being happy that he does not have Down syndrome.

William leaves Walford with Honey and Janet in September 2008 when Billy lies about giving Jase's money to charity, which had led to his death. It is revealed a few days later that they are living with Honey's father Jack Edwards (Nicky Henson). Janet and William return when Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) wants a family photo taken. On Christmas Day 2008, Janet and William return again for Christmas but are not seen on-screen.

In April 2009, when it is revealed that William is ill, Billy goes to see him, leaving the Mitchell family, who are torn apart by the true identity of Danielle Jones (Lauren Crace) and her subsequent death, to see William. William reappears in May 2009, along with Janet, for Billy's birthday party. In December 2009, Peggy's ex-husband Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) and his girlfriend Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), convince Honey to allow Billy to have Janet and William for Christmas in return for him keeping quiet about their plotting against the Mitchells.

In May 2010, Billy has trouble telling Janet and William that Honey has been involved in a car crash and that Jack has died.

William appears again in June 2011 when he meets Billy's girlfriend Julie Perkins (Cathy Murphy) for the first time as they play in the local park. He also visits Billy on Father's Day and in July 2011, Janet and William meet their niece Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) off-screen for the first time.

In July 2012, Janet and William make an appearance in the spin-off episode Billy's Olympic Nightmare. During the live segment at the end of the second episode, William returns to the Square to watch Billy take part in the Olympic Torch relay.

2014–present

William returned in February 2014 with Janet to stay with Billy. Lola's boyfriend Peter Beale (Ben Hardy), feels squeezed out by this as the flat is overcrowded. Peter also asks his father Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) to give Billy a job in his fish and chip shop, so Billy can provide for Janet and William. In May 2014, William returns again along with Honey and Janet. Billy and Honey take Janet and William out for the day and Billy believes Honey wants to reconcile with him, but she reveals that William has been offered a modelling job in Canada and she plans to move there with Janet and William. She explains that she wanted Billy to be able to spend as much time with Janet and William as he could before they left. Billy is outraged by this, even more so when he discovers that William's contract lasts for a year. Billy burns Janet's passport and pleads with Honey not to take Janet and William but Honey is adamant and refuses to change her mind. She allows Janet and William to stay with Billy until their departure. Billy decides to flee with Janet and William and stays the night at a hotel, with the intention of going to stay with Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves). Billy's cousin Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick), track Billy down and convince him to return to Walford with Janet and William. Honey finds out what Billy had been planning to do and she decides to let Janet stay with him whilst she is in Canada with William. Billy is satisfied with this solution, and after bidding farewell to Billy, William leaves for Canada with Honey.

In November 2015, William, now called Will, (now played by Freddie Phillips) returns with Honey to visit Billy and Janet. He is left devastated when Honey tells him his modelling contract has not been renewed. He and Janet are delighted when Honey decides to move near to Billy and they then move in with Billy's cousin, Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack).

In 2016, Billy, Honey, Janet and Will move into the flat above the funeral parlour, where Billy is made a partner in the business, but Will struggles to sleep.

In July 2017, Will and Dennis Rickman Jnr (Bleu Landau) plan to throw eggs at Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), but accidentally hit his half-sister, Bernadette Taylor (Clair Norris). Keegan gets into Dennis's house and tells them Bernadette is pregnant. Dennis and Will apologise and Keegan attempts to force Dennis to smoke, but is caught and thrown out by Michelle Fowler (Jenna Russell).

In 2022, Will developed a crush on Jada, and began to do things to impress her and her friends Melody Wiles (Niamh Longford) and Chess Newland (Liani Samuel) including drinking and smoking drugs. Nothing would become of Will's crush with Jada and she left the Square later the same year.

In 2024, Will is caught vaping by his mother after he was given a vape by Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James). In June 2024, Will confides in his grandfather Stevie Mitchell (Alan Ford) that he is being blackmailed. He tells Stevie that he has been catfished and needs £300 to stop the blackmailer from uploading nude images he has sent to the catfish. After Stevies plan backfires, at the charity night that is held for Lola some money is stolen. Everyone believes it to be Stevie. After working out that it was really Will that stole it, Stevie confronts him and Will knocks him over resulting in Stevie being hospitalised. Phil discovers about the blackmailing and confronts the catfish. He gets the money back and makes out Stevie stole it. He tells Will to go along with the story. After Stevie's secret family turn up and there's arguments, Will finally admits what's been going on and he was to blame for the money and hurting his grandad.

In August 2024, it’s stated Will got grade 8’s and 9’s on all his GCSE’s, and has got in to his college choice of health and social care.

Development

Casting and departure

As a baby, Will was played by child actor, Toby Walpole. Toby played Will all through his first stint and at the start of second stint. On 19 April 2008, it was announced that Will's mother, Honey had been axed by show bosses. When this aired in September that year, Will and his sister, Janet left with her. Between 2008 and 2015, when Will returned for good, him and his sister make countless guest appearances when visiting Billy.

Return

In May 2014, Will makes a surprise return, which hadn't been announced before hand, alongside Janet and Honey. From here, he is played by Freddie Phillips. In September 2015, it was announced that Will would be returning alongside Honey and Janet.

Reception

The scenes in which Honey was attacked were subject to heavy criticism, with Ofcom receiving 78 complaints from viewers about the level of violence displayed, and concerns for the safety of her baby. The media regulatory body stated that: "In Ofcom's view the violence was not appropriately limited for this time of the evening when many children are available to view television." EastEnders was found to have breached the broadcasting code on this occasion, though the BBC defended itself by stating that there had been a gradual buildup to the event over several episodes, and that a content warning was aired prior to the episode's broadcast.