View Full Version : Archie Mitchell
Nasty Archie Mitchell stoops to his lowest point yet – by exploiting his premature grand-daughter’s fight for life.
The manipulative dad puts a comforting arm around both fiancée Peggy and daughter Ronnie.
But behind his concern the twisted dad continues to torment his eldest daughter Ronnie.
In dramatic scenes, viewers will see her sister Roxy Mitchell go into labour and give birth early to a little girl.
The baby is taken straight off to intensive care where doctors say she is too delicate to hold.
But as Ronnie visits her tiny niece for the first time her dad can’t resist playing the perfect father, despite viewers knowing he’s really a rotter.
Archie forced Ronnie to give up her own baby for adoption when she was a teenager.
Recently viewers saw him lying that her daughter died at the age of four in the adoptive parents’ bath.
An EastEnders insider said: “When Roxy’s baby daughter arrives into the world early she faces a real fight for life.
“The entire Mitchell family are beside themselves and Ronnie feels it really badly.
“She believes she’s lost a daughter and doesn’t want her sister to experience the same pain. It’s all very close to her own heartache and Archie knows this.
“He really is a nasty piece of work where Ronnie is concerned. But he can’t control her.
“It’s going to be a very interesting time – especially as he’s also been pulling the wool over Peggy’s eyes.”
Fans of the hit BBC1 soap can catch the emotional scenes a week on Tuesday.
The eagerly-awaited character of Archie Mitchell was introduced to Walford in July this year, but the lead up to his arrival saw various Hollywood names in the frame, including Terence Stamp, Malcolm McDowell and Ray Winstone. The role was finally secured by ever-popular Gavin & Stacey actor Larry Lamb. His arrival in Albert Square rocked many boats, not least his daughter Ronnie's (Samantha Janus) who continues to spurn his efforts to make amends. Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor), however, quickly succumbed to his controlling charms and agreed to marry him. Here, Larry chats to DS about his character, Ronnie and Archie's mutual hatred and Christmas week.
Did you like the way they'd built the character of Archie before you'd even arrived?
"Absolutely. I can remember them saying 'look, there's your picture on the computer' and when I looked, there was a silhouette in place of the character's head. All I needed was to fill in that blank and join the dots."
When you first joined, did you feel a certain kind of responsibility to the Mitchells and EastEnders?
"Yeah, it's a huge responsibility joining a show like EastEnders. It's like an institution that's been rocking along for twenty-odd years and it's something that everybody capable of looking at a television knows about."
Is there more to Ronnie and Archie's hatred than him taking her baby away all those years ago?
"I think so. The thing is, we're still exploring it now and there are still things emerging. Archie's somebody who's made a lot of mistakes in his past, wanting everybody to come up to speed and not still deal with him the way they knew him back then. There's an element of misunderstanding with Archie, but Ronnie's obviously been so badly stung by him."
Why does Archie still carry on their animosity?
"Well, I think what he does is that he gets so exasperated that he just gives up for a while. He sometimes thinks that he's flogging a dead horse and can't keep on trying to get Ronnie to like him, so he just carries on trying to get everyone else to like him. He tends to devote himself to Roxy, though there's always the slight possibility lurking in the background that things can change with him."
Moving onto Christmas week, Archie's got Suzy by the short and curlies, hasn't he?
"I think she's got him by the short and curlies! The crux of Christmas week for Archie is that he's woven so many webs that he's becoming terrified that something's going to unravel and he's going to be seriously exposed for what he's been cooking."
But he turns the situation on its head, doesn't he?
"Yeah, Suzy gets the blame. She's walked into Archie's trap, but she blows her way out of it. Archie's hoisted on his own petard."
Do we realise that Archie has a conscience over Christmas?
"The thing with him is, that if he was to be clinically analysed, he'd probably be diagnosed with schizophrenia or something. So it's a case of which conscience are you talking about? The Archie that adores baby Amy and Roxy, or the Archie that's unleashing all kinds of hell on other people? He's a weirdo!"
Why does Archie try to ruin things, even thought he knows his golden child Roxy is involved?
"There are calculated risks for Archie. If he's going in on the attack, there's always going to be some innocents that are injured along the way. His job is to try and keep that to a minimum and clean them up if they are injured. He's a calculating minx."
A lot of people are billing you as the best EastEnders villain since Dirty Den…
"I should be so lucky!"
Bonus Scoop: 'EastEnders' actor Larry Lamb
At the beginning of the month, I caught up with Larry Lamb at EastEnders' Christmas screening on the South Bank in London and I have to say, what a nice guy he is.
My chat with the Gavin & Stacey-turned-Walford star appears here. If you'd like to read more about what's to come for Archie Mitchell, Peggy's select wardrobe and Archie's bar stool, read on...
Archie's character biog says that he has a 'chequered past'. Are there more skeletons in his closet yet to be discovered?
"I think there might be. It's interesting that Archie's background is all tied up in making money in different sorts of places and different ways. The one thing he's admitted to is that he bought and sold some clubs and bars and we've always figured that somewhere in his background there are some other property deals. It'd be interesting to see what goes on with the current financial situation. It may well be that it affects him. You never know what they're going to unleash on you here!"
And can you give any teasers as to when we'll be hearing wedding bells for Archie and Peggy?
"Yeah, wedding bells are very definitely in line for the New Year. He's called it off though, and at the moment, they're friendly but they're living under a flag of truce with an element of mystery lurking."
What about Peggy's frumpy frocks? They're hideous aren't they?
"I rather like them! I think they've figured out what Archie likes a women wearing!"
What's it like working with Sam, Rita and Barbara?
"Fabulous. The ability of some people to put together a cast of people who not only look right together but play right together is quite extraordinary. Some people just have that talent and Diederick [Santer] is just somebody who knows how to put together a stew. He knows what he wants."
Is there a reason why Archie just sits at the bar on the same stool all the time?
"If you go around to pubs and bars around the country, or as they used to be, at times in the day when there's not a rush, you'll always see the boss or the boss's wife in their spot. You won't see them there at seven at night, but you'll see them there in the day with a cup of tea, doing the crossword chatting to punters and watching. Archie's not into booze, either, so he's going to do that - it's his vantage point."
Dutchgirl
17-12-2008, 15:45
Is there a reason why Archie just sits at the bar on the same stool all the time?
"If you go around to pubs and bars around the country, or as they used to be, at times in the day when there's not a rush, you'll always see the boss or the boss's wife in their spot. You won't see them there at seven at night, but you'll see them there in the day with a cup of tea, doing the crossword chatting to punters and watching. Archie's not into booze, either, so he's going to do that - it's his vantage point."
I was wondering the same. He always sits there scrutinizing the people in the bar and especially the Mitchel family.
i thought he had a successful business.
walsh2509
27-12-2008, 01:55
For me its time up for Archie , does nothing. What a chance the programmers had at the Christmas Vic dinner, as Suzy is bowing out it should have been she lets rip with the DNA test in front of everyone and then says to roxy it was your dad that put me up to it and paid me £10,000 from the safe to do it.
Peggy after him , Phil after him Sean and both girls .. it would have been a classic. It was good but for me if it had went down that way it would have been even better.
Is this bloke ever gona get found out - I can't stand the character he plays - can't wait for him to loose Roxy when she finds out what he's really like!
Is this bloke ever gona get found out - I can't stand the character he plays - can't wait for him to loose Roxy when she finds out what he's really like!
I am sure he will be found out when Danielle tells Ronnie who she is.. after all Archie said she went to her funeral.. I hope they find out soon.. besides, aren't Peggy and himself suppose to get married in March???? I might come out then
sindydoll
06-01-2009, 19:21
Is this bloke ever gona get found out - I can't stand the character he plays - can't wait for him to loose Roxy when she finds out what he's really like!
I am sure he will be found out when Danielle tells Ronnie who she is.. after all Archie said she went to her funeral.. I hope they find out soon.. besides, aren't Peggy and himself suppose to get married in March???? I might come out thenwhen does she tell her?
LOOK out, Archie * Peggy wants you dead! And when she gets her tough-guy son Phil involved, it looks like she might get her wish!
After the revelations at last week's wedding reception from hell, Peggy is determined not to take her lying husband back.
She orders Phil to get rid of every trace of the celebrations from The Vic.
And it's not just the presents Peggy wants gone * she tells Phil to murder Archie!
"After the wedding, Archie thinks he can sweet-talk Peggy round," says Larry Lamb, who plays him. "He doesn't believe that she would ever hurt him." First, Peggy calls Archie and asks him to come over *then flings a bin bag holding every piece of clothing he's ever bought for her at him!
Later in the week, a van pulls up beside Archie and a masked man hauls him in.
Terrified Archie ends up at the Arches, blindfolded and with his hands bound * by Phil! First, Phil pretends he is holding a gun to Archie's head * then he threatens him with a blowtorch.
"Archie begs for his life," adds Larry. "He offers Phil all his savings to spare him." But Phil orders Archie into the garage pit and says he's going to fill it with concrete.
"This will be the first time we see Archie scared and vulnerable," explains Larry. "He realises everything is out of his control." Sobbing, Archie promises never to return to Walford if Phil lets him out, but Phil starts the cement mixer.
Will he carry out his mum's wish and bury Archie alive?
From The Sun
Chloe O'brien
05-04-2009, 01:13
No he won't Phil will set him free and Archie will kick is sorry butt.
di marco
06-04-2009, 16:17
phil doesnt go through with it which really annoys peggy
Peggy is annoyed cos her son won't commit cold blooded murder and risk leaving his son, her grandchild, without a father?
Only on EastEnders:rolleyes:
The show where we bury people alive (twice, Easter seems a great time for it), kill off just-reunited daughters and where little girls plot with their (maybe) dad to kill his elderly mother:rolleyes:
I hope Phil sees sense.
Chloe O'brien
06-04-2009, 22:40
Peggy has got more chance of asking Dottie to get rid of Archie than Phil doing it
Peggy has got more chance of asking Dottie to get rid of Archie than Phil doing it
:lol: :lol:
George Lamb has said that people in the street presume his dad Larry is evil like his soap character.
The Big Brother's Little Brother host claimed that he is enjoying his father's career "renaissance" playing Archie Mitchell in EastEnders.
"When I was a little boy, my dad was always successful and I was always used to having people stop him in the street," he told DS.
"Then for one reason or another, he spent some time in the theatre and found himself out in the cold a little bit. It was weirder being around a dad who wasn't at the fore of it all. Now he's having this renaissance it's lovely."
He continued: "I get in cabs in the morning and people are like 'Oi! You better tell your old man he's evil'. I'm like guys, 'He's not evil, he's acting!'"
Lamb added that he was often given his dad's trademark evil stare when he misbehaved as a child.
"Oh yes, you got the look [when you were bad]," he said. "But his bark is worse than his bite, for sure."
JustJodi
08-04-2009, 16:17
From all the spoilers looks like after Phil does what ever it is to Archie,, is this the LAST we see of him ( dead or alive ????)
Dutchgirl
08-04-2009, 16:18
Lamb added that he was often given his dad's trademark evil stare when he misbehaved as a child.
"Oh yes, you got the look [when you were bad]," he said. "But his bark is worse than his bite, for sure."
Ooh some stare it is. Gives me the creeps.
Mr. Lamb did a fine job portraying Archie, kudos.
di marco
08-04-2009, 17:13
From all the spoilers looks like after Phil does what ever it is to Archie,, is this the LAST we see of him ( dead or alive ????)
apparently in inside soap it says he comes back in the summer, dunno if thats true or not though
Chloe O'brien
08-04-2009, 23:38
He'll come back with Sam. The dippy cow will try and get Peggy and him back together.
storyseeker
14-04-2009, 00:47
From all the spoilers looks like after Phil does what ever it is to Archie,, is this the LAST we see of him ( dead or alive ????)
apparently in inside soap it says he comes back in the summer, dunno if thats true or not though
I had heard rumour that he comes back and kidnaps Roxy, and Ronnie kills him.
EastEnders's villainous Archie Mitchell is to make his return to Albert Square in the summer.
Archie - played by 65-year-old Larry Lamb - was last seen leaving Walford on Friday night after nephew-come-stepson Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) failed to kill him, despite the direct order from his mother Peggy (Barbara Windsor).
At the beginning of the month, Archie's world caved in on him as his lies, manipulation and deceit were finally revealed on his wedding day, which resulted in the controversial death of Ronnie's (Samantha Janus) biological daughter, Danielle Jones (Lauren Crace).
Following his family's complete abandonment of him - including his daughters Ronnie and once-besotted golden girl Roxy (Rita Simons) - Archie turned to Danielle's killer Janine (Charlie Brooks) for a roof over his head. Deciding to leave Walford, Archie walked to the tube station, only to be bundled into the back of an unmarked van.
After having his stepfather kidnapped, Phil had him bound and blindfolded in the Arches where he threatened to end his life. However, Phil quickly realised that Archie would suffer more if he were forced to live alone as an outcast from his own family.
Despite his disappearance, however, Phil hadn't bargained for Archie to be plotting his comeback so soon.
An EastEnders insider said: "Who knows how Archie will return to Walford? He left a lonely, broken man who had lost his whole family due to his cruel lies and manipulation. He walked away leaving a path of devastation for the Mitchells which will be felt around the Square for many weeks to come."
They added: "Will he come back a reformed character desperate to rebuild his family again? Or will he cause yet more upset and mayhem for the Mitchells?"
Larry Lamb returns to filming within the next few months, and will make his screen reappearance in the summer.
sindydoll
14-04-2009, 10:22
From all the spoilers looks like after Phil does what ever it is to Archie,, is this the LAST we see of him ( dead or alive ????)
apparently in inside soap it says he comes back in the summer, dunno if thats true or not though
yes it is true he does come back! i wonder if they will kill him off this time
Chloe O'brien
14-04-2009, 12:16
No they won't kill him off we need him to make Peggy's and Phil's life a misery.
Oh I hope he makes that vile old bat's life a misery :D
They better not reform him or make him nicer in any way. I love Ronnie but Peggy must suffer. I hope Ronnie doesn't give him an inch though.
di marco
02-08-2009, 08:55
Over in Walford, Jack (Scott Maslen) and Archie (Larry Lamb) are acting all coy as they've made a secret deal. But what? Well, when Archie strides into the Car Lot and announces that he's Darren (Charlie G Hawkins) and Ricky's (Sid Owen) new boss, they're confused.
Later, it transpires that Jack's sold the Car Lot to Archie so that he could buy Ronnie (Samantha Womack) out of her share in R&R.
tammyy2j
03-08-2009, 19:52
I'm shocked at Jack doing a deal with evil Archie thats not going to get Ronnie back
tammyy2j
05-08-2009, 12:41
Archie Mitchell starts empire building – by talking Jack Branning into letting him run the car lot.
Larry Lamb, the actor who plays sneaky Archie, said: “He wants control of everything. He wants to run the lot.
“He’s got to be the head of the family – and it doesn’t matter how far it goes wrong, he never really sees that.”
Archie was forced to leave the Square soon after his disastrous wedding to Peggy Mitchell when it was revealed he had lied to his daughter Ronnie about her own daughter being dead.
Ever since, the disgraced family man has been worming his way back into the Mitchell family.
Our Walford source adds: “As usual Archie is putting number one first here.
“He knows that having the car lot will place him in a position of power. It means he is not as dependent on Peggy as he was in the past.
“If things do happen to go wrong again this time he has something to fall back on.”
Putting the concerns about Ronnie out of his mind Jack and *Archie shake on the deal.
Later at the car lot Archie reveals to Darren and Ricky that he is their new boss, leaving them surprised and confused.
What will Archie do next to cement his control in the Square?
Viewers can find out by tuning in on August 14 on BBC1 at 8pm.
I'm shocked at Jack doing a deal with evil Archie thats not going to get Ronnie back
I read somewhere that they try to split Joel and Ronnie up. I don't see how they can be trying to do it through this deal though; unless he's found out off screen Jack doesn't know who Joel is yet and I don't see why Ronnie and Joel would stop seeing each other over a car lot.
I would've thought Jack would use his brain though; although Ronnie wants out of the club I'm sure she'd prefer to keep hold of her share rather than let Archie get his hands on anything else that would give him more of a reason to stay in the square.
di marco
14-08-2009, 18:50
I'm shocked at Jack doing a deal with evil Archie thats not going to get Ronnie back
I read somewhere that they try to split Joel and Ronnie up. I don't see how they can be trying to do it through this deal though; unless he's found out off screen Jack doesn't know who Joel is yet and I don't see why Ronnie and Joel would stop seeing each other over a car lot.
I would've thought Jack would use his brain though; although Ronnie wants out of the club I'm sure she'd prefer to keep hold of her share rather than let Archie get his hands on anything else that would give him more of a reason to stay in the square.
archie gives joel money to stay away from ronnie. dunno how jacks involved though. also atm it seems like the only reason hes selling archie the car lot is so he can get the money for ronnie
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.