Veteran actor Alan Ford has joined EastEnders playing Stevie Mitchell, the estranged father of Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick).
The 85-year-old is known for his roles in various gangster movies, including the British classics Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Stevie put Billy into care at the age of ten after Stevie took sole custody of Billy's older brother Charlie and they have not seen each other in 25 years.
The character arrives in Walford as the Mitchells prepare to bury Aunt Sal (the late Anna Karen) but it soon becomes apparent that he is not welcome into the family fold.
"It's an honour to welcome the immensely talented Alan Ford to the cast of EastEnders as he takes on the role of Stevie Mitchell," said executive producer Chris Clenshaw.
"Whilst Billy has been a stalwart in the show for over 25 years, viewers know very little about his complicated childhood and the events that led him to grow up in care."
Stevie will make his screen debut in the coming weeks.
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