'EastEnders' Phil could hit the bottle over Ben, warns Steve McFadden

EastEnders star Steve McFadden has predicted that his character Phil Mitchell could return to his self-destructive ways in the coming weeks.

Phil's son Ben (Joshua Pascoe) has been tipped to come out as gay in a forthcoming episode after recently growing close to his boxing mentor Duncan (Steven France). Events take a new twist next week when Ben tells Phil that he panicked after Patrick saw him kissing 'someone', hinting at his secret.

McFadden told All About Soap of Phil's reaction: "[The penny] half drops, but he doesn't want to hear it. He says they're going to forget the conversation - it's classic denial, of course.

"Deep down, Phil is aware of what he's being told but he doesn't accept it. Therefore it isn't true in his eyes."



McFadden added that, rather than lashing out at Ben, Phil is more likely to punish himself as he struggles to come to terms with his son's sexuality.

"I think it's more likely to send him into self-destructive mode than for him to hit out," the actor said. "Phil hiding from it all in the bottle or by using drugs is definitely an option.

"It's his way of running away, like he did before when he couldn't cope with Peggy. He could end up on the drugs again."

EastEnders continues tonight at 7.30pm on BBC One.

> EastEnders Patrick is victimised by the Mitchells - Spoiler Pictures
> EastEnders Ben sexuality plot is a great storyline, says Steve McFadden
> Read more EastEnders news and spoilers

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