EAGLE-eyed EastEnders viewers have shared concerns that one character is set for a ‘heartbreaking

storyline’.

The BBC soap arrived on viewers’ screens in 1985 and is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year.

While the soap has its long history, fans are worried about one of the newer characters on Albert Square.

Stevie Mitchell – played by Alan Ford – is the estranged father of Billy Mitchell (played by Perry Fenwick), who resurfaced on the scene earlier this year.

The character’s tenure so far has seen him try to reconcile with the Mitchell family, particularly Billy, who remembers the poor parenting he received from Stevie.

Rather than an emotional reunion with his son, viewers are predicting that a very different outcome could be in Stevie’s future.

Taking to Reddit, one fan speculated whether the Mitchell patriarch’s mind could be deterioating.

They wrote: “I could be completely off track here. But when Stevie called Billy ‘Ted’ tonight, I did think is he sometimes getting a bit confused?

“After googling, I found out Stevie has a brother called Ted. I could understand him calling Billy his other son’s name but to call him the name of his brother, I thought was a bit odd.

“Maybe I’m reading into it too much, not sure?”

Other viewers agreed, as one affirmed: “It might be why he’s come back. It could potentially be a dementia storyline.

“He may have come back to see his family before he forgets who they are. It would be a heartbreaking storyline, but something very important to highlight with so many poor people living with it and their carers.

“As another poster said he called Jack Jim too.

“He genuinely looked phased when Billy pulled him up like he didn’t make a mistake.”

Meanwhile, a fellow fan remarked: “Oh man I hope not, I find dementia so horrifically sad and painful.

“I understand it’s important to highlight and that’s why soaps are supposed to cover ‘real’ issues alongside the wild but that would be so sad.”

It comes as the show’s iconic Mitchell family is soon set to expand, courtesy of Stevie.

Upcoming scenes will see Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian) arrive, joined by sons Harry (Elijah Holloway) and Barney (Lewis Bridgeman).

Teddy is Stevie’s third son (after Billy and Charlie) and his existence is currently unknown to the Mitchells living in Albert Square, including Billy.

One fan suggested this may explain Stevie’s error, as they wrote: “I think it’s because his other son is coming into it who’s called Teddy.”