EastEnders’ Billy Mitchell star Perry Fenwick has been on the hit BBC One soap since 1998 and he has opened up about his time on Albert Square in a new podcast chat
EastEnders' Billy Mitchell star Perry Fenwick has recalled the time an innocent wardrobe blunder left him being mobbed in the supermarket.
The actor, 61, appeared on Kathy Burke's podcast Where There's A Will, There's A Wake, to discuss everything from his childhood to his nearly 30 year stint on the hit BBC One soap.
During the chat, Perry recalled the time he accidentally wore part of his costume from set to the supermarket, which led to him being mobbed by soap fans.
He said: "We’ve got one of these coats at work that we’re given for when we’re on location, they’re cold cover coats to keep you warm, and we’ve all got our character names on the back. The wardrobe girls put on my one 'TV’s Billy Mitchell', which was all well and good until about a month ago when we finished filming and I’m in a hurry to get back, so I decided that I’d go home in Billy’s clothes."
Perry recalled that he stopped off at Sainsbury's to "pick up a few bits" but was soon left baffled as to why he was getting mobbed like something from "The Beatles mania".
He said: "I’m in there about an hour, getting recognised more than I’ve ever been in my life, it was like Beatles mania, and it’s only when I get home that I realise I’ve been walking around Sainsbury's with 'TV’s Billy Mitchell' written in big letters on the back of my coat."
Elsewhere during the chat, Perry revealed he almost gave up acting and became a cab driver before being cast as Billy on EastEnders in 1998 as all of his work had "dried up".
He said: "I was about to start 'the knowledge' (driving black cabs). But then they rung up the agent and said about EastEnders and I thought ‘oh, I could do with that now’."
Perry is the only actor to have played Billy, who's had his fair share of drama over the years. Most recently the character was left heartbroken when his beloved granddaughter Lola, played by Danielle Harold, died from a brain tumour.
Where There’s a Will There’s A Wake is available to listen to on all podcast platforms.
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