EastEnders Grant Mitchell's most memorable moments - from sleeping with his mother-in-law to mum Peggy's death

As Grant Mitchell returns to Albert Square in 2025 to celebrate the show's 40th anniversary, we take a look at the Mitchell Bruvver's most memorable moments

When he swaggers into Albert Square to mark EastEnders’ 40th anniversary, Grant Mitchell will be “back with a bang,” according to actor Ross Kemp.

It’s been eight years since Grant was last seen, when he returned for a heartbreaking family reunion, to say goodbye to mum Peggy, played by the late great Dame Barbara Windsor. But out of sight has never been out of mind, for fans of the Cockney hardman.

How could it be, when this tornado of a character has done everything from cheat on his second wife Tiffany with her mother-in-law, to survive being shot at by his brother Phil, after sleeping with his wife Kathy - resulting in his car plunging into the Thames? “Grant has never been far from the action,” says Ross.

Here, we take a look back at some of Grant’s most memorable moments, since he and brother Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, arrived in Walford 35 years ago, in February 1990.

No one it seems is impervious to the charms of ladies’ man Grant - not even the girlfriend of Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) who he seduced in 2006. Jane Collins (Laurie Brett) fell for Grant after teaming up with him to intervene in a feud between Ian and Grant's brother Phil, when they ended up kissing. Jane later told Grant she was not in love with him but, after an argument with Ian, she slept with him.

But, when push came to shove, she chose Ian over Grant - causing the heartbroken hardman to leave Walford. A dyed-in-the-wool lothario, Grant has been married three times, to Sharon, Tiffany and Carla. And he’s also had affairs with Chelsea Fox, Michelle Fowler and his wife Tiffany’s mother, Louise Raymond.

Grant Mitchell’s return to the soap in the 2000s saw him play detective - becoming involved in the unveiling of Den Watts’ killer. He finally discovered that Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) killed Den (Leslie Grantham) after her lover Jake Moon (Joel Beckett) questioned her and she admitted it.

For a long time Chrissie believed that she had got away with murder. What she didn’t know was that Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) secretly witnessed the fatal blow, when she hit Den with Pauline Fowler’s (Wendy Richards) cast iron doorstep, before burying him in The Queen Vic cellar. The murder was a central part of the show's 20th anniversary episode, which aired on February 18, 2005 pulling in more than 14 million viewers.

It may be a quarter of a century ago, but devoted EastEnders fans will never forget Grant’s dramatic departure from the soap in 1999, after Phil fired a gun at the car he was driving. After bullets were fired, viewers were gripped, as they saw Grant’s motor sliding into the River Thames. Phil had lost it after discovering that his big brother had slept with his then-wife Kathy Mitchell (Gillian Taylforth) just to be spiteful. Astonishingly, Grant survived the ordeal. But, soon after, he bid farewell to Walford, leaving with his daughter Courtney to start a new life in Brazil (and leaving the door open for a possible return.)

EastEnders fans know only too well that the most dramatic events occur ver Christmas and New Year and that was certainly the case back in 1998. Viewers were on the edge of their seats, as Grant's second wife, Tiffany,(Martine McCutcheon) was run over by his stepfather Frank Butcher on New Year's Eve. Tiffany was planning to leave the UK with their daughter Courtney, but was stopped in her tracks when Grant was released from prison on bail and snatched their little girl. Chasing after them, Tiffany ran straight into the path of an oncoming car, driven by Frank Butcher (Mike Reid).

With his wry smile, tough guy image and bulging biceps, Grant has never had a problem winning women’s hearts. And his love life has known very few boundaries, as he proved in 1995 when, despite being married to Sharon Watts, played by Letitia Dean, he didn’t let that stop him from having a one-night stand with her best friend Michelle Fowler(Susan Tully). Although, to be fair to Grant, Sharon also did the dirty with his brother Phil!

After their one-night stand, Michelle fled to America - hiding a very big secret, Grant didn’t find out until years later that she had given birth to his son in the US. He eventually found out in 2016, after Phil told him he’d discovered a letter revealing that Grant was the father of Michelle's child, Mark Fowler Junior.

Finding out his wife Sharon had been having a two year affair with his brother Phil had an incendiary effect on Grant. In this explosive1994 storyline, dubbed Sharongate, the hardman heard Sharon confessing to her adultery on a tape that had been sent to him.

Never one for holding back, Grant reacted - or should that be erupted - playing the tape to a pub full of people. They were gathered at The Queen Vic, at Phil and Kathy's engagement party. In an episode watched by 25.3 million viewers, he then beat his brother unconscious, which led to Sharon leaving the soap for a time. No doubt Grant’s imminent return will lead to many more duff, duff, duff moments!