EastEnders' Billy takes Olympic Torch to Walford
EastEnders' Billy Mitchell has his moment of glory when he proudly carries the Olympic Torch through Albert Square. But the hapless PA, played by Perry Fenwick, find himself running late for his big moment and things may not go entirely to plan for him when the scenes air on July 23, 2012. The episode will feature live footage of Billy carrying the Olympic Flame while being cheered on by the famous residents of Albert Square. Perry joked: "Like Billy, I am also terrified at what might go wrong as I carry the Olympic torch through Albert Square." The episode will be largely filmed in advance but several minutes of the Olympic procession will be beamed direct to TV screens around the UK live from the Elstree set. It was revealed last year that the Olympic Torch relay would head to EastEnders, which shares the postcode of E20 with the Olympic Park, and that Billy would be the man to carry the torch through the fictional London borough of Walford. Perry's character Billy and fellow EastEnders favourite Fatboy were nominated for one of the coveted spots to become a torchbearer - but Billy got the green light.
Get the What to Watch Newsletter
The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more!
Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.
An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.