Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) gives his friends and family more cause for concern in EastEnders next week, as his loneliness storyline deepens.

The Walford icon has become increasingly isolated in recent months – something that has only worsened since his ex-wife Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and long-lost cousin Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian) went public with their relationship.

Hope arrived in the form of his estranged childhood friend Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley), who made a surprise return to Walford before Christmas and has been staying with Phil ever since.

However, Phil’s low mood and social anxiety has continued to plague him.

Next week, Phil is Phil is uninterested when son-in-law Callum Highway (Tony Clay) returns from the States having been visiting his husband and Phil’s son Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) in prison there.

His reaction flagging as unusual, Callum and Nigel then join forces to arrange a belated birthday party for Phil in The Vic.

Nigel is later forced to backtrack on the plans when it becomes clear Phil wants a quiet night in, and Nigel breaks the news to a disappointed Sharon and the rest of the Mitchell clan who have gathered for the celebrations.

When Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) tries to convince Nigel to accompany her to church, he is more concerned about Phil, before facing questions from Sharon about her ex – will the pair be able to get through to him?

It was recently confirmed that Phil’s on-screen brother Grant Mitchell – played by Ross Kemp – will be returning to EastEnders in the coming weeks, as the soap gears up for its 40th anniversary in February.

Will a reunion with his brother lift Phil’s spirits?