PEGGY Mitchell returned to EastEnders today in a harrowing and dark episode of the BBC soap.

The episode – which centred around Phil Mitchell’s declining mental health – saw Phil hallucinate visions of his younger self and family, including mum Peggy.

Suffering from depression and apparent psychosis Phil was seen getting a gun in both the real world and his past with his dad Eric and mum Peggy.

While Sharon and his friends tried desperately to find him, Phil managed to evade them until Jay found him at home.

Phil spiralled out of control in front of Jay – who didn’t quite understand what was going on.

Babbling, he told Jay: “You can’t trust your body and your body can’t trust you, it lies to you.

“People die, like Lola, you know she had her body, it was mutating on her, it wasn’t doing what it was meant to do, how is that right? It’s wrong.

“She’s young, she’s healthy, she’s fit. She’s never done nothing to no-one in her whole life and then there’s the likes of me.

“I’ve smashed my body up against a brick wall so many times, I just never die. Drink, drugs, fights, heart attacks, got shot, cirrhosis…

“I should be dead. I should be dead and in the ground but my body just don’t take the hint. My body just keeps on repairing, it keeps the blood going round and round and round.

“You’re wasting your time boys. You’re wasting your time on this one. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Jay kept asking Phil if it was alright and then accepted that he was, leaving him alone in his house, leaving him to slip into another vision with his dad and himself.

A troubled Phil ended up shooting his younger self, while getting his gun out in reality.

Another run in with Sharon followed but Phil convinced her he was fine too – and promised to speak to her later.

But after she left, a horrifying vision of his mum Peggy returned – and told Phil he should end it all.

She told him: “Look at you, 64 and not a friend in the world. Not so much a life as a smear across six decades.

“You make out you care about people, but you don’t. You hurt them, you abuse them. Eric was not a kind man to me but I grieved for him, and I grieve for you too.

“You ended up just like him. Phil, sweetheart, this is what you think I think and I’m not here to say any different so it’s all we’ve got, isn’t it?

“But you know what, we can still make the world a better place… by letting your kids grow up without you in their lives.”

But as Phil picked up the gun in both his vision and real life, Nigel burst in – to both scenes – just in the nick of time.

“Phil, are you OK? Phil, Phil, are you OK? I was a bit worried about you. I thought you might want to see a friendly face…

“Hello bruv,” said Grant from behind.

Fans were blown away by the episode – in particular actor Steve’s performance.

One wrote: “Steve McFadden and Daniel Delaney. Both absolutely amazing. The rest of the cast were great and sold it too, but it was this pair’s episode and they aced it.”

A second said: “Steve McFadden should win all the soap awards available in the next year.”

Another added: “Steve McFadden gave the performance of his life during Phil’s monologue to Jay. 35 years of history laid bare like only the power of soap can.”