Ross Kemp has returned to EastEnders as Grant Mitchell 35 years after he made his debut as the Walford bad boy.
During Thursday’s (February 13) episode of the BBC One soap, which is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer, Sharon Mitchell, Jay Brown, Billy and Honey Mitchell frantically searched for Phil Mitchell after they are unable to trace him at No.55.
As Phil’s depression continued to take hold, he experienced symptoms of psychosis in the form of hallucinations depicting scenes from the Mitchell family home in 1985.
During his hallucinations, Phil acted as a bystander to a pivotal moment from his adolescence. As Phil’s negative internal dialogue worsened, the hallucinations transcended into Phil’s life as he started to converse with the characters from his past, as well as his former younger self back in Walford in The Square and at No.55.
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron/PA Wire)
Jay managed to track Phil down back at No.55 before Sharon arrived for a crisis talk. Phil insistsed he was fine and set Sharon on her way, but it wasn’t not long before Nigel Bates arrived home with a visitor who he hopes can help Phil in his time of need– Grant Mitchell.
Speaking about his return, Ross said: “I’m delighted to be returning to EastEnders as the show heads towards its 40th anniversary. EastEnders has always meant so much to me, so to return as the show is about to celebrate such a special anniversary is an absolute honour. Grant has never been far from the action, and let’s just say, this time is no different as he certainly comes back with a bang.”
(Image: BBC)
Ross originally played Grant from 1990 to 1999 but the character left Walford after an intense confrontation with Phil and subsequently moved to Brazil with his daughter Courtney Mitchell.
The actor has returned for various guest appearances over the years for significant events such as the on-screen departure of on-screen mum Peggy Mitchell, played by Dame Barbara Windsor, from the soap back in 2016.
Although there was no formal announcement explaining his original departure from EastEnders in 1999, The Guardian reported at that time he had secured a lucrative £1 million contract with ITV and was keen to explore fresh ventures.
(Image: BBC)
Post-EastEnders, Ross took up presenting roles for numerous documentaries and appeared in both films and television series. However, he’s been open about having doubts over his choice to leave the popular soap.
Fans may not know that Ross appeared as Graham Lodsworth in rival ITV soap Emmerdale before landing the role of Grant and he also played Detective Inspector Monk in sitcom Birds of a Feather. As well as acting and fronting hard-hitting documentaries, Grant has written several books.
In the late 90s, Ross began dating journalist Rebekah Wade, who worked for the News of the World. The couple got engaged in 1996 and married in 2002, by which point Rebekah was the editor of The Sun. Sadly, the marriage wasn’t to last and the couple officially divorced in 2009.
(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
After his divorce from his first wife Rebekah, Ross welcomed his first child, a boy, with his former partner and makeup artist Nicole Coleman.
In 2012, Ross married his second wife, Australian-born Renee O’Brien, and the couple remain happily married. he family like to keep their personal life private, and little is known about Renee. Since his marriage to Renee, the documentary maker has welcomed another three children. The couple share a son Leo, born in 2015, and twins Ava and Kitty, born in 2017.
(Image: Internet Unknown)
Speaking to the Mail Online back in 2019, Ross said: “I’m very happy I’ve got my children and wouldn’t have it any other way. I could have done it about a decade earlier though, I should’ve done.
“I was old, I was in my 40s, I was quite selfish before, in terms of you put yourself first, you look at what’s going to be best for you and that totally goes out the window when you have children, you put your children way in front of everything you do.”
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 6am
View news Source: https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/inside-eastenders-ross-kemps-life-34668055
