Jamie Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Jamie Mitchell is a fictional character
from the BBC
soap opera
EastEnders
, played by Jack Ryder
, who made his first appearance on 9 November 1998. Ryder decided to leave in 2002, and his final episode aired Christmas Day 2002, when Jamie was killed off.
Jamie's main storylines involved his on and off relationship with Sonia Fowler
(Natalie Cassidy
). Their relationship faced much backlash after Sonia, gave birth to Chloe (Jade Sharif
) at the age of 15, which was Martin Fowler
's (James Alexandrou
), with whom she was with before she met Jamie and when Jamie sleeps with Zoe Slater
(Michelle Ryan
), along with many other problems. Another storyline that Jamie was involved in was his relationship with uncle Billy Mitchell
(Perry Fenwick
), whom used to beat him on a regular basis, though later forgives him.
One other major storyline was after his second cousin once removed and godfather, Phil Mitchell
(Steve McFadden
), takes him in after finding out what Billy does to him. Phil then beats him sometime later which prompted thirty-one complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Commission. Towards the end of his time on EastEnders he got engaged to Sonia, but gets run over by Martin and dies in hospital on Christmas Day of spleen
damage.
When Ryder decided to quit his role, executive producer John Yorke said that the 'door would be left open' for Jamie to return, though when Yorke was succeded by Louise Berridge
, the decision was made to kill Jamie off. The decision was highly critisized, and Ryder said it was a shock for him, but said that if he hadn't been killed off, he would have not returned anyway. In 1999 he was nominated three times for 'Best Newcomer' and for his exit storyline he was nominated for 'Best Exit', in 2003, at the The British Soap Awards, but did not win.
after the death of his father, Charlie. His second cousin once removed and godfather, Phil Mitchell
(Steve McFadden
), takes him in after realising Jamie's uncle and caretaker, Billy Mitchell
(Perry Fenwick
), used to beat him on a regular basis. Jamie becomes Phil's surrogate son, replacing Ben Mitchell (Morgan Whittle), and he stands up to Billy, at one point battering him when Billy tries to beat him up. Billy softens and changes his whole character, and Jamie learns to forgive him.
Jamie starts a relationship with Sonia Jackson
(Natalie Cassidy
), his first true love, after losing his virginity to Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks
), who humiliates him by spreading rumours about his inadequate prowess in bed. A few months into the relationship, Sonia gives birth to Chloe (Jade Sharif
) at just 15 years of age. The child is Martin Fowler
's (James Alexandrou
), with whom she had sex before she met Jamie, but she was unaware that she was pregnant. Chloe is put up for adoption, and it is a blow to Jamie and Sonia's relationship.
The relationship survives Sonia's obsession with Chloe (now renamed Rebecca), and after she kidnaps her, Jamie proposes and she accepts, but he sleeps with Zoe Slater
(Michelle Ryan
), who has been pursuing him for a while. He and Sonia consequently split up, but after Phil disowns him and beats him for letting Lisa Shaw
(Lucy Benjamin
) run off to Portugal
with his daughter, Louise (Danni Bennatar
), it is Sonia who nurses him back to health, and they get engaged again, leaving her boyfriend, Gus Smith
(Mohammed George
), heart-broken, as he had also plannned to propose. However, Martin accidentally runs over Jamie outside the tube station, and Jamie dies in hospital on Christmas Day of spleen
damage, with Sonia by his side.
-style storyline would take place, involving a female character getting pregnant. The possibilities were Sonia carrying Jamie's baby, Kat Moon
(Jessie Wallace
) being pregnant by Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey
) or Sam Mitchell
(Kim Medcalf
), (later Daniella Westbrook), having Trevor Morgan
's (Alex Ferns
) child. It was later revealed that Kat was pregnant.
then reported that Jamie would be killed off in a car accident at Christmas. Yorke wanted Ryder to be able to return, but when he was succeeded by Louise Berridge
, the decision was made to kill Jamie off and that a Christmas death would be "gripping". An EastEnders crew member told the newspaper that other members of the cast were shocked that Jamie would be killed as Ryder was popular. They went on to say that "[Ryder] thought it was all amicable but he's bewildered by the whole affair. It's complete madness because he's the one all the girls love and attracts a huge young following. Who's left who's sexy?" Speaking of his departure he told the Daily Mirror, "I was a bit shocked by their decision. When I said he was going to leave, they said they would keep the door open. Then Louise took over as producer and they said they wanted a good exit. It didn't really matter either way to me. I wasn't planning on coming back. At the end of the day, it's their choice. They hired me. Jamie was always having an affair or another fight with Phil and I didn't want to be in a soap for the rest of my life."
In July 2011, BBC
aired an EastEnders special called EastEnders Greatest Exits. It showed the best departures in the shows history, with Jamie's death being one of them. Jamie's death was called "tragic", and McFadden said, "to see a young man losing his life was one of those tragic moments that this show pulls of really well." Charlie Brooks
said, "it was heartbreaking for the nation" and Fenwick described Jamie's last episode as "very sad". Finally, Joe Swash
said, "EastEnders is really good at bringing you back down to earth with bump. You celebrate one thing and mourn poor old Jamie's death. Not only that but there was probably about 25 million girls out there, breaking their hearts because they all loved Jack Ryder".
(Melanie Owen
) The same year he was nominated for Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards
, but again did not win, aswell as 'Best Newcomer' again at the TVChoice Awards, awarded by TV Choice magazine, this time winning. In 2003, at the The British Soap Awards he was nominated for 'Best Exit', but did not win.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
, played by Jack Ryder
Jack Ryder (actor)
Jack Seigfried Ryder is an English actor, best known for playing Jamie Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders from 1998 to 2002.-Biography:...
, who made his first appearance on 9 November 1998. Ryder decided to leave in 2002, and his final episode aired Christmas Day 2002, when Jamie was killed off.
Jamie's main storylines involved his on and off relationship with Sonia Fowler
Sonia Fowler
Sonia Ann Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Natalie Cassidy. Her first appearance was on 21 December 1993 and she made her final appearance on 2 February 2007...
(Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Ann Cassidy is a British actress, most commonly known for appearing in the television soap EastEnders where she played Sonia Jackson for many years. She has also appeared in the BBC Two sitcom Psychoville and was a contestant on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing.-Career:As a...
). Their relationship faced much backlash after Sonia, gave birth to Chloe (Jade Sharif
Jade Sharif
Jade Kathleen Sharif is a young actress who played Rebecca Miller in EastEnders from 2005 to 2007.In February 2007 Sharif left EastEnders alongside Natalie Cassidy and James Alexandrou...
) at the age of 15, which was Martin Fowler
Martin Fowler (EastEnders)
Martin Albert Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by James Alexandrou from 1996 to 2007.The role was previously played by Jon Peyton Price from early life as a baby in 1985 to 1996, just before Martin's teenage years began.-Storylines:Martin is the younger son...
's (James Alexandrou
James Alexandrou
James Alekos Alexandrou is an English actor of Greek Cypriot descent, best known for playing Martin Fowler in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders.-Early life:...
), with whom she was with before she met Jamie and when Jamie sleeps with Zoe Slater
Zoe Slater
Zoe Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michelle Ryan. She made her first appearance on the 18 September 2000...
(Michelle Ryan
Michelle Ryan
Michelle Claire Ryan is an English actress.She is best known for portraying the role of Zoe Slater on BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 2007, she starred in the short lived American television series Bionic Woman...
), along with many other problems. Another storyline that Jamie was involved in was his relationship with uncle Billy Mitchell
Billy Mitchell (EastEnders)
William "Billy" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Perry Fenwick, who made his first appearance on 2 November 1998. Billy was seen when Phil went to visit his godson Jamie. However, he didn't arrive in the Square until 2 August 1999, almost a year after...
(Perry Fenwick
Perry Fenwick
Perry Fenwick is an English film and television actor. He has one sister, Tracey, and two brothers, Faron and Lee. He is, also, the second cousin of Georgina Hagen, who played Lauren Waters in the series of Britannia High....
), whom used to beat him on a regular basis, though later forgives him.
One other major storyline was after his second cousin once removed and godfather, Phil Mitchell
Phil Mitchell
Philip James "Phil" Mitchell is a long-running fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Steve McFadden.Phil first arrived in Albert Square on 20 February 1990, and was soon joined by his brother, Grant, sister Sam and mother Peggy...
(Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden is an English actor, known for his role as Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, which he has played since1990.-Early life:...
), takes him in after finding out what Billy does to him. Phil then beats him sometime later which prompted thirty-one complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Commission. Towards the end of his time on EastEnders he got engaged to Sonia, but gets run over by Martin and dies in hospital on Christmas Day of spleen
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
damage.
When Ryder decided to quit his role, executive producer John Yorke said that the 'door would be left open' for Jamie to return, though when Yorke was succeded by Louise Berridge
Louise Berridge
Louise Berridge is a British writer of historical fiction. Before she became a novelist, she was best known as a television producer and script editor. The most famous post being the executive producer of BBC's EastEnders between 2002 and 2004...
, the decision was made to kill Jamie off. The decision was highly critisized, and Ryder said it was a shock for him, but said that if he hadn't been killed off, he would have not returned anyway. In 1999 he was nominated three times for 'Best Newcomer' and for his exit storyline he was nominated for 'Best Exit', in 2003, at the The British Soap Awards, but did not win.
Storylines
Jamie arrives in WalfordWalford
Walford is a fictional borough of east London in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The name Walford is both a street in Dalston where one of the series' creators, Tony Holland, lived and a blend of Walthamstow, where Holland was born, and Stratford. The suffix 'ford' is also found throughout East...
after the death of his father, Charlie. His second cousin once removed and godfather, Phil Mitchell
Phil Mitchell
Philip James "Phil" Mitchell is a long-running fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Steve McFadden.Phil first arrived in Albert Square on 20 February 1990, and was soon joined by his brother, Grant, sister Sam and mother Peggy...
(Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden is an English actor, known for his role as Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, which he has played since1990.-Early life:...
), takes him in after realising Jamie's uncle and caretaker, Billy Mitchell
Billy Mitchell (EastEnders)
William "Billy" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Perry Fenwick, who made his first appearance on 2 November 1998. Billy was seen when Phil went to visit his godson Jamie. However, he didn't arrive in the Square until 2 August 1999, almost a year after...
(Perry Fenwick
Perry Fenwick
Perry Fenwick is an English film and television actor. He has one sister, Tracey, and two brothers, Faron and Lee. He is, also, the second cousin of Georgina Hagen, who played Lauren Waters in the series of Britannia High....
), used to beat him on a regular basis. Jamie becomes Phil's surrogate son, replacing Ben Mitchell (Morgan Whittle), and he stands up to Billy, at one point battering him when Billy tries to beat him up. Billy softens and changes his whole character, and Jamie learns to forgive him.
Jamie starts a relationship with Sonia Jackson
Sonia Fowler
Sonia Ann Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Natalie Cassidy. Her first appearance was on 21 December 1993 and she made her final appearance on 2 February 2007...
(Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Ann Cassidy is a British actress, most commonly known for appearing in the television soap EastEnders where she played Sonia Jackson for many years. She has also appeared in the BBC Two sitcom Psychoville and was a contestant on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing.-Career:As a...
), his first true love, after losing his virginity to Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks
Charlie Brooks
Charlene "Charlie" Brooks is a Welsh actress, best known for playing Janine Butcher on the BBC soap opera EastEnders.-Acting career:...
), who humiliates him by spreading rumours about his inadequate prowess in bed. A few months into the relationship, Sonia gives birth to Chloe (Jade Sharif
Jade Sharif
Jade Kathleen Sharif is a young actress who played Rebecca Miller in EastEnders from 2005 to 2007.In February 2007 Sharif left EastEnders alongside Natalie Cassidy and James Alexandrou...
) at just 15 years of age. The child is Martin Fowler
Martin Fowler (EastEnders)
Martin Albert Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by James Alexandrou from 1996 to 2007.The role was previously played by Jon Peyton Price from early life as a baby in 1985 to 1996, just before Martin's teenage years began.-Storylines:Martin is the younger son...
's (James Alexandrou
James Alexandrou
James Alekos Alexandrou is an English actor of Greek Cypriot descent, best known for playing Martin Fowler in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders.-Early life:...
), with whom she had sex before she met Jamie, but she was unaware that she was pregnant. Chloe is put up for adoption, and it is a blow to Jamie and Sonia's relationship.
The relationship survives Sonia's obsession with Chloe (now renamed Rebecca), and after she kidnaps her, Jamie proposes and she accepts, but he sleeps with Zoe Slater
Zoe Slater
Zoe Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michelle Ryan. She made her first appearance on the 18 September 2000...
(Michelle Ryan
Michelle Ryan
Michelle Claire Ryan is an English actress.She is best known for portraying the role of Zoe Slater on BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 2007, she starred in the short lived American television series Bionic Woman...
), who has been pursuing him for a while. He and Sonia consequently split up, but after Phil disowns him and beats him for letting Lisa Shaw
Lisa Fowler
Lisa Deborah Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Lucy Benjamin from 1998 to 2003 and in 2010. Lisa was instrumental in one of EastEnders most highly publicised and anticipated storylines, dubbed Who Shot Phil? in 2001, where she gunned down her former...
(Lucy Benjamin
Lucy Benjamin
-Career:Born Lucy Jane Baker in Reading, Berkshire, England, she took the stage name of Benjamin after her brother. Benjamin trained at the Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead. Her first acting role was as a child actor in Doctor Who in 1983 playing a young version of the character Nyssa...
) run off to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
with his daughter, Louise (Danni Bennatar
Danni Bennatar
Danielle Faye Benattar is an English child actress, who was cast in the British soap opera EastEnders in 2008 as Phil Mitchell's daughter Louise Mitchell. The character was last seen in 2003 when she was played by Rachel Cox...
), it is Sonia who nurses him back to health, and they get engaged again, leaving her boyfriend, Gus Smith
Gus Smith
Augustus "Gus" Smith is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Mohammed George. He made his first appearance on 28 May 2002. It was announced on 18 January 2008 that Gus would leave the show later in 2008...
(Mohammed George
Mohammed George
Mohammed "Mo" George is an actor who played Gus Smith on the soap opera EastEnders from 2002 to 2008. Before appearing in EastEnders, George made guest appearances in Holby City, Bottom and The Last Detective...
), heart-broken, as he had also plannned to propose. However, Martin accidentally runs over Jamie outside the tube station, and Jamie dies in hospital on Christmas Day of spleen
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
damage, with Sonia by his side.
Development
The EastEnders website describes Jamie as vulnerable, gorgeous, beautiful, a stud, and "the Square's ultimate bit of cockney totty in the late nineties", with "floppy, David Beckham styled locks". Perry Fenwick, who plays Billy, said that they used to call Ryder a "mini David Beckham". In 2003, after Jamie's death, it was reported that a whodunitWhodunit
A whodunit or whodunnit is a complex, plot-driven variety of the detective story in which the puzzle is the main feature of interest. The reader or viewer is provided with clues from which the identity of the perpetrator of the crime may be deduced before the solution is revealed in the final...
-style storyline would take place, involving a female character getting pregnant. The possibilities were Sonia carrying Jamie's baby, Kat Moon
Kat Moon
Kathleen "Kat" Moon is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jessie Wallace. She was also played by Kate Peck in a flashback in 2001. She appeared in the show from September 2000 to November 2004, then returned in May 2005...
(Jessie Wallace
Jessie Wallace
Jessie Wallace is an English actress best known for her portrayal as Kat Moon in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.-Early life:...
) being pregnant by Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey
Nicholas Bailey
Nicholas R. Bailey is a British actor, best known for his role as Anthony Trueman in the British soap opera EastEnders. He was also a contestant on ITV's Soapstar Superstar in January 2006...
) or Sam Mitchell
Sam Mitchell (EastEnders)
Samantha Margaret Priscilla "Sam" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC One soap opera EastEnders. The third member of the Mitchell family to be introduced, Sam entered as a 15-year-old school girl in July 1990, played by Danniella Westbrook. Westbrook quit in 1993, but was reintroduced...
(Kim Medcalf
Kim Medcalf
Kim Louise Medcalf is an English actress and occasional singer.She has made occasional appearances as a singer and is best known for playing the character Sam Mitchell in the long running BBC Soap Opera EastEnders from 2002 to 2005....
), (later Daniella Westbrook), having Trevor Morgan
Trevor Morgan
Trevor Morgan is the name of:* Trevor Morgan , American actor* Trevor Morgan , English footballer* J. Trevor Morgan , member of the Canadian House of Commons...
's (Alex Ferns
Alex Ferns
Alexander "Alex" Ferns is a Scottish actor and television personality, best known for his EastEnders role as Trevor Morgan, "Britain's most-hated soap villain."...
) child. It was later revealed that Kat was pregnant.
Departure
Ryder's decision to quit was announced in March 2002, on which he stated, "I have decided to leave EastEnders after four fantastic years to pursue other projects. It has not been an easy decision but I felt it was time for me to build on the experience the show has given me and play other parts. EastEnders gave me the best opportunity a young actor could have dreamed of and I will always be grateful to them for that." EastEnders executive producer John Yorke commented, "Jack has made a big contribution to EastEnders playing the much loved Jamie Mitchell. "We will be very sad to see him go but we wish him all the best for his future." It was said that Ryder would leave in November 2002 at the end of his contract, and Yorke said he would appear in episodes until February 2003. The News of the WorldNews of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
then reported that Jamie would be killed off in a car accident at Christmas. Yorke wanted Ryder to be able to return, but when he was succeeded by Louise Berridge
Louise Berridge
Louise Berridge is a British writer of historical fiction. Before she became a novelist, she was best known as a television producer and script editor. The most famous post being the executive producer of BBC's EastEnders between 2002 and 2004...
, the decision was made to kill Jamie off and that a Christmas death would be "gripping". An EastEnders crew member told the newspaper that other members of the cast were shocked that Jamie would be killed as Ryder was popular. They went on to say that "[Ryder] thought it was all amicable but he's bewildered by the whole affair. It's complete madness because he's the one all the girls love and attracts a huge young following. Who's left who's sexy?" Speaking of his departure he told the Daily Mirror, "I was a bit shocked by their decision. When I said he was going to leave, they said they would keep the door open. Then Louise took over as producer and they said they wanted a good exit. It didn't really matter either way to me. I wasn't planning on coming back. At the end of the day, it's their choice. They hired me. Jamie was always having an affair or another fight with Phil and I didn't want to be in a soap for the rest of my life."
Reception
The October 2002 episode that showed Jamie badly beaten by Phil prompted thirty-one complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Commission, who felt that although the scene was short, it was too violent for the time of broadcast. The episode that saw Jamie get run over was watched by 12 million people, while the hour-long episode in which he dies attracted 16 million viewers and was named by the Metro as one of the top five EastEnders exits in June 2010.In July 2011, BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
aired an EastEnders special called EastEnders Greatest Exits. It showed the best departures in the shows history, with Jamie's death being one of them. Jamie's death was called "tragic", and McFadden said, "to see a young man losing his life was one of those tragic moments that this show pulls of really well." Charlie Brooks
Charlie Brooks
Charlene "Charlie" Brooks is a Welsh actress, best known for playing Janine Butcher on the BBC soap opera EastEnders.-Acting career:...
said, "it was heartbreaking for the nation" and Fenwick described Jamie's last episode as "very sad". Finally, Joe Swash
Joe Swash
Joseph Adam Swash is an English actor and presenter. He once played Mickey Miller in the British television soap opera EastEnders. He is the older brother of Shana Swash, who played his on-screen younger sister Demi Miller until July 2006. He also won the TV reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me...
said, "EastEnders is really good at bringing you back down to earth with bump. You celebrate one thing and mourn poor old Jamie's death. Not only that but there was probably about 25 million girls out there, breaking their hearts because they all loved Jack Ryder".
Accolades
In 1999 at the The British Soap Awards Ryder was nomianted for 'Best Newcomer' though lost out to fellow EastEnders star Tamzin OuthwaiteTamzin Outhwaite
Tamzin Maria Outhwaite is an award-winning English actress. She became known for her role as Melanie Owen in the British soap opera EastEnders, whom she portrayed from 1998 until 2002.-Early career:...
(Melanie Owen
Melanie Owen
Melanie Jane "Mel" Owen is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tamzin Outhwaite. She appeared from October 1998 to April 2002 when Outhwaite opted to leave the role...
) The same year he was nominated for Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards
National Television Awards
The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Because of the way the awards are decided, winners are...
, but again did not win, aswell as 'Best Newcomer' again at the TVChoice Awards, awarded by TV Choice magazine, this time winning. In 2003, at the The British Soap Awards he was nominated for 'Best Exit', but did not win.