Kate Mitchell

Kate Mitchell
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Jill Halfpenny
Introduced by	Louise Berridge
Duration	2002–05
First appearance	24 December 2002
Last appearance	7 January 2005
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Alias	Kate Morton (Maiden name) Kate Tyler (Code name)
Date of birth	1972
Occupation	Police officer (until 2003)
Family Husband Phil Mitchell (2003–05) Father Geoff Morton

Kate Mitchell (née Morton) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jill Halfpenny.

Storylines

Kate meets Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) in hospital where he visits his godson, Jamie Mitchell (Jack Ryder), who is dying from injuries sustained in a road accident. When Jamie dies, Kate supports Phil, and they begin a relationship. As an undercover policewoman, she says her full name is Kate Tyler and she is a nail technician. As she confronts him with rumours that he murdered his former wife, Lisa Fowler (Lucy Benjamin), Phil notices a small microphone under Kate's jumper. Kate confesses being an undercover police officer and that his confession is being recorded. Phil goes into a rage, but Kate tells him she has fallen in love with him and will leave her job to be with him. Despite initial anger, he forgives her and she sets up a nail salon called SophistiKate's. Phil proposes to Kate and she accepts.

Phil and Kate marry.

On their wedding day, her alcoholic father, Geoff (Maurice Roëves), is an unwelcome presence; he openly dislikes Phil, but they make up for Kate's sake. Kate demands to see her daughter, Louise (Rachel Cox), and they come to an agreement regarding access. Lisa, however, is unhappy with this and aided by Den Watts (Leslie Grantham), who frames Phil for attempted robbery and assault, reclaims her daughter and leaves Walford. Disgusted, Kate ends their marriage.

Kate takes on a new work partner, Den's wife Chrissie Watts (Tracy Ann Oberman), a hairdresser. Kate and Den begin an affair, and when Chrissie finds out, she hacks off Kate's hair before confronting her. However, they later become friends again and continue to work together. After her father's suicide, Kate is offered the opportunity to rejoin the police force in Brighton. She takes the offer, closes the salon, and leaves Walford.

Creation and development

It was announced on 6 October 2004 that Halfpenny had been axed by new executive producer Kathleen Hutchison. Halfpenny is said to be "devastated" by this news. A BBC spo0kewoman told The Mirror: "Jill's contract has come to an end but that is no reflection on her as an actress, producers just felt there was nowhere left for the character to go. She won't be killed off and the door will be left open for her to return."^[1]

References

1. ^ Wilkes, Neil. "Confirmed: 'EastEnders' actress axed". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a16160/confirmed-eastenders-actress-axed.html. Retrieved 12 November 2011. 

External links

• Kate Mitchell at BBC Online