Grant Mitchell List of EastEnders characters (1990)

grant mitchell, played ross kemp, first appears in 1990, introduced producer michael ferguson revamp show. kemp remained until 1999 when opted leave. in 2005 , 2006, kemp persuaded return role brief stints during period of heavy media criticism aimed @ eastenders. return proved ratings success, though kemp has since been sceptical possibility of return. popular character, prominent in series, grant portrayed tough persona, known fiery temper , tendency resort violence. family important him, particularly relationship brother, phil (steve mcfadden). grant , phil known mitchell brothers have become household names in united kingdom. have been parodied in adverts gruff, tough talking, cockney accents have been impersonated. 1 of eastenders popular , highly rated storylines sharongate, grant discovers wife sharon (letitia dean) has been having affair brother. in latter part of 1989 eastenders acquired new executive producer named michael ferguson, took on mike gibbon. ferguson had been producer on itv s bill – hard-hitting, gritty , successful police drama, seemed challenging eastenders in providing realistic vision of modern life in london. due success on bill, peter cregeen, head of series @ bbc, poached ferguson become executive producer of eastenders.