It’s official – Eastenders icon Phil ‘don’t mess with me or my family’ Mitchell is the most loved baddie of the British soaps, beating Robert Sugden and Jack Branning at their dirty games
He’s number one!(Image: BBC)
Eastenders legend Phil Mitchell has been voted the ‘baddest’ soap opera villain ever. The bald mechanic – played for the past 35 years by Steve McFadden – trumped all-comers to be crowned the best soap baddie in the UK.
Phil is known for his hot-headedness and fiery temper, and is known to utter ‘Don’t mess with me…or my family’ to enemies.
He and brother Grant, played by Ross Kemp – were the ’no-nonsense’ Mitchell brothers, whose beloved mum Peggy was landlady of the Queen Vic. Soap fan Rachel Snodgrass, 52, of Watford, Herts, said she used to ‘fancy’ Phil when she was younger.
He’s a tough, mean guy and we love him for it(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
She said: “I really fancied Phil at first, but he turned into a violent thug who looks like he’s going to punch everyone he claps eyes on.
“I still love him as a character, but I can’t say I fancy him anymore.”
A spokesman for VegasSlotsOnline – which conducted the study – said: “Since his EastEnders debut in 1990, Phil has become a true icon.
“His intense, no-nonsense persona has earned him a legendary status and put him top of the pile for soap baddies.”
Researched analysed the most popular soap opera villains on Instagram and TikTok, and narrowed it down to a final top 10, spreading the votes between the 10 finalists, which were as follows:
Don’t mess with him, or his family(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron/Matt Burlem)
Another beloved soap villain may be welcomed back to the small screen, as rumours continue to swirl that a Coronation Street crook could come back to stir the pot.
Despite dying in 2004 after she attempted to kill Dev and Sunita, Maya may make a shockwaves comeback now that Dev and Sunita are due to get hitched, fans hope.
“Manifesting a Mad Maya return for Dev and Bernie’s wedding. It’s time she came back to finish what she started,” one viewer posted on X. Another chimed in: “Bring Mad Maya back for Dev’s wedding please.”
