Phil Mitchell made his highly-anticipated, if very brief, return to EastEnders on Monday and viewers couldn't be happier with his comeback.
Phil (Steve McFadden) has been off screen since January when he went abroad to recuperate after having a life-saving liver transplant.
Towards the end of Monday night's episode, viewers saw Phil's son Ben Mitchell call him to tell Phil to come home after his daughter Louise's accident.
Waking a sleeping Phil - very brave! 😁
— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) July 24, 2017
Has Ben made the right call (literally). 📲
Find out tomorrow on @BBCOne at 8.00PM. pic.twitter.com/rleEEQFqIr
According to Twitter, it was worth the wait.
Phil Mitchell is back in Eastenders and life is good🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
— Harry Munday (@HarryyMundayy) July 24, 2017
PHIL'S BACK YES SO SO HAPPY #EastEnders
— louise barby✨ (@HughieRyan_Bae) July 24, 2017
IT'S PHIL! EVERYBODY GIVE PHIL A CHEER!#EastEnders
— Lewis Jefferies (@lewiisjefferies) July 24, 2017
Finally seeing Phil Mitchell!!! #EastEnders pic.twitter.com/l3Mp7trOMy
— Eastenders Fan (@EastendersFanEE) July 24, 2017
Don't think I've been more happy to see anyone then I have Phil #eastenders
— Jamie-Leigh Clayton (@JamieLeigh_22) July 24, 2017
Fellow returning star Lucy Benjamin previously warned fans to prepare for "fireworks" when her character Lisa Fowler and Phil come face to face for the first time in years on the soap this week, and it looks like she wasn't exaggerating.
Benjamin appeared in the BBC soap from 1998 until 2003 as Phil's partner, with whom she had a volatile relationship, and was involved in the programme's iconic 'Who Shot Phil?' storyline.
Viewers saw Benjamin return in Friday's episode after Lisa's daughter Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper) was seriously injured at the school prom when her dress went up in flames.
Rather predictably, Monday's instalment which showed Phil's return prompted some jokey references to the famous shooting plot.
Lisa laughing at the fact someone else shot Phil 😂😂 #Eastenders
— Ell (@EllennF_) July 24, 2017
Lisa & Sharon laughing over Phil being shot again.... 🤣 #EastEnders
— Nicole Reece (@Gloss80Official) July 24, 2017
Welcome back Phil at LAST!
— Mickey Wildman (@mickster1994) July 24, 2017
Loved it when Sharon told Lisa Shirl shot Phil lol @bbceastenders #EastEnders
Can't believe Sharon and Lisa are bonding over Phil getting shot twice lmao #EastEnders
— luke this way Ⓥ (@luxxybee) July 24, 2017
With Lisa back on #Eastenders I wonder if the Exec producers are planning round two of 'Who Shot Phil' when he returns from his break.
— Peter Henry Todd (@Peter_H_Todd) July 24, 2017
Remember when Lisa shot Phil? Looooool goood times #eastenders
— maryam (@halaalharibos) July 24, 2017
EastEnders viewers were also mightily impressed with the scenes between the feuding Sharon and Lisa.
Lisa rushed to hospital upon hearing about Louise's accident, where she had a showdown with Sharon (Letitia Dean) who made it clear that she wasn't needed in Louise's life anymore.
Sharon eventually issued Lisa an ultimatum - saying if she wants to be a part of Louise's recovery then she can't disappear again.
The Sharon/Lisa stuff was brilliant! Best #Eastenders is a long time!
— Dan (@Dan_Cymru) July 24, 2017
Loving Lisa and Sharon scenes tonight #EastEnders @Lucy_Benjamin xxx
— Sarah Patricia Baron (@SarahBWatsonfan) July 24, 2017
Those Sharon/Lisa scenes were the best thing to happen in months. #EastEnders
— Alfie Sheldon (@AlfieS12) July 24, 2017
All these sharon and lisa scenes ❤️ #EastEnders
— EastEnders (@eespoileralert) July 24, 2017
Later, Ben decided to call his dad Phil to tell him the news about Louise. What will happen when he comes face-to-face with Lisa?
Find out when EastEnders airs on Tuesda, July 25, at 7.30pm on RTÉ One.
