Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) has entered self-destruct mode once again.
In yesterday’s episode, his best mate Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) called time on their living arrangement and moved back to Scotland with wife Julie (Karen Henthorn).
It brought an end to seven months together, reigniting their friendship that spans decades, and supporting one another through troubling times.
Phil had even acted as Nige’s carer in the wake of his young-onset dementia diagnosis.
However, after Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) contacted Julie, she was adamant that he return home with her. Phil was furious and wanted Nigel to make the decision for himself.
Despite his memory failing and forgetting who she was, Nigel eventually packed his bags and headed for the train station.
A heartbroken Phil couldn’t bear to wave him off – despite some words from Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) – and sat alone in his kitchen.
In today’s instalment, he woke up and slowly began to remove traces of Nige from the house, such as sticky notes he’d left in the kitchen as reminders.
Heading to the cafe, he refused to talk to Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth) and shut down both Jay and ex-wife Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) when they approached him.
As far as he’s concerned, they’re both responsible for Nigel’s exit.
Linda called him over for another catch-up in the hope she could make a breakthrough, but more disaster struck.
As they headed upstairs, Phil crossed paths with son-in-law Callum Highway (Tony Clay), who was hanging out with Linda’s son Johnny (Charlie Suff).
The pair have been seeing one another for weeks, though have kept things lowkey because of Callum’s marriage to Phil’s son Ben (Max Bowden), and to protect Ben’s daughter Lexi (Isabella Brown).
Phil immediately put two and two together and saw red. He grabbed Johnny by the neck and dangled him over the staircase.
Back at home, Callum pleaded with Phil to understand, asking him not to ruin his family. But it was too late.
Enraged, he told Callum and Jay that he intended to take full custody of Lexi, and they were nothing to him anymore.
