Archie Mitchell

Infobox EastEnders character 2
character_name=Archie Mitchell


actor_name=Larry Lamb
introducer=Diederick Santer
years= 2008—
first=8 July 2008
last=
classification=Present; regular
status= Engaged
occupation=Retired club owner
home= The Queen Vic
father=Phil Mitchell
mother=Sandra Mitchell
brothers=Eric Mitchell
Clive Mitchell
wife=Glenda Mitchell
daughters=Ronnie Mitchell
Roxy Slater
granddaughters=Danielle Jones
grandfathers=Edward Mitchell
grandmothers=Betty Mitchell
uncles=Kenneth Mitchell
nephews=Phil Mitchell
Grant Mitchell
nieces=Sam Mitchell
great nephews=Mark Fowler Jr.
Ben Mitchell
great nieces=Courtney Mitchell
Louise Mitchell
cousins=Steven Mitchell
Ted Mitchell
1st cousin once=Billy Mitchell
Charlie Mitchell
1st cousin twice=Jamie Mitchell
Janet Mitchell
William Mitchell

Archie Mitchell is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders" played by Larry Lambcite news|url=http://thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article891351.ece|title=Another Mitchell for Peg's clan|publisher="The Sun"|date=2008-03-08|accessdate=2008-03-08] and made his first on-screen appearance on 8 July 2008.

Character creation

The character of Archie is the father of already established characters Ronnie (Samantha Janus) and Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons), and a member of the Mitchell family, who have appeared in the soap since 1990. It has already been established in the serial that he has a good relationship with Roxy, but does not speak to Ronnie, a fact that causes arguments between the sisters.

The arrival of Archie was anticipated ever since the arrival of his daughters in July 2007, with several actors rumoured to be taking on the role. Janus told Digital Spy, "I would love the idea that this mad, iconic male [Archie] comes back into our lives. It needs to be someone dark — someone that gives a really wiry performance."cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a67297/mitchell-sisters-want-hollywood-star-as-on-screen-father.html|title=Mitchell sisters want Hollywood star as on-screen father|publisher=Digital Spy|first=Kris|last=Green|date=2007-07-23|accessdate=2008-03-08] Simons added, "I don't know why I've got this thing about Bob Hoskins. I've always wanted him to be my dad." Other actors mentioned by Janus and Simons include Terence Stamp, Malcolm McDowell, Michael Caine, Ian McShane [cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a84483/the-truth-about-archie-mitchell.html|title=The truth about Archie Mitchell|publisher=Digital Spy|first=Kris|last=Green|date=2008-01-11|accessdate=2008-03-08] and Ray Winstone. Winstone, a friend of Janus, denied claims that he would be playing Archie, joking "I'll play [Ronnie's] fella but I'm not playing her dad!" [cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a84716/winstone-jokes-about-possible-enders-role.html|title=Winstone jokes about possible 'Enders role|publisher=Digital Spy|first=Kris|last=Green|date=2008-01-12|accessdate=2008-03-08] Veteran entertainer Lionel Blair was also rumoured to be playing Archie, but this was denied. [cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a89704/blair-tipped-for-eastenders-role.html|title=Blair tipped for 'EastEnders' role|publisher=Digital Spy|first=Alex|last=Fletcher|date=2008-02-19|accessdate=2008-03-08] The character's imminent arrival was announced in early March 2008, with Larry Lamb being cast in the role.

The character has been described by "EastEnders" executive producer Diederick Santer as "a Mitchell through and through", "possessing the unique moral code which that legendary name implies",cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a91082/enders-archie-to-blow-mitchells-apart.html|title=Enders' Archie to blow Mitchells apart|publisher=Digital Spy|first=Kris|last=Green|date=2008-03-08|accessdate=2008-03-08] who will "set the cat amongst the Mitchell pigeons" and " [blow] the complex and darkly-veiled Mitchell world [...] apart." He is also described as "charismatic, authoritative, smart and proper old-school London" and an "archetypal Mitchell", [cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/news/news_20080310_n1.shtml|title=Lamb to join Mitchell clan|publisher=BBC|date=2008-03-10|accessdate=2008-03-13] and according to Digital Spy, his arrival will "shed new light on what made Ronnie and Roxy into the women they are and [...] provide some new insights into [Peggy Mitchell|Peggy [Mitchell] 's history." Santer promised "EastEnders"' audience "stacks of excitement and drama" upon Archie's arrival.

Speaking of the casting of Lamb in the role, Santer commented: "Larry Lamb is an immensely talented, experienced and charismatic actor. [...] [Barbara Windsor|Barbara [Windsor] , Rita [Simons] , Sam [Janus] and I are very excited to be working with Larry." Lamb said: "I'm absolutely delighted to be joining the Mitchell clan and working with [...] Barbara Windsor and my new-found daughters Ronnie and Roxy. I can't wait to step into Archie's shoes — frankly, it's a badge of honour to join "EastEnders". My roots are working class so becoming part of the Square feels right. It's like I've come full circle and am back where I started out." He also described Archie as "different [from Phil and Grant] . He's not [...] frightened to get involved, but he's become more worldly over the years. He's made a success of his life and he's learnt a lot on the way.""Radio Times" 8 July 2008. "One Final Question", Beryl Wilson. Page 54.]

Archie is a love interest for Peggy, his brother's widow, despite reports that actress Barbara Windsor did not want any more romantic storylines. [cite news|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=111094&in_page_id=7&in_a_source=|title=Barbara pleads for less Peggy romance?|publisher="Metro"|date=2008-03-05|accessdate=2008-03-08] Windsor later commented that "she always thought Larry Lamb should star in the [...] soap" and that he is a "match made in heaven" for her. [" [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a95442/barbara-windsor-praises-new-mitchell.html EXCLUSIVE: Barbara Windsor praises new Mitchell] , "Digital Spy". URL last accessed 2008-07-13.]

Character development

The character of Archie was introduced in a group of episodes filmed on-location in Weymouth, Dorset. [" [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a93180/eastenders-sends-mitchells-to-dorset.html 'EastEnders' sends Mitchells to Dorset] ", "Digital Spy". URL last accessed 2008-07-13.] Viewers were made aware of his feud with daughter Ronnie after he made her give her baby up for adoption as a teenager. Larry Lamb discussed Archie and Ronnie's relationship in an interview with "Radio Times": "He has a very chequered past - it's gone very wrong with Ronnie, while Roxy's his blue-eyed girl [...] he's a very family-oriented character and I think he finds the dissent between him and Ronnie a little bit tough to take." He has also said: "Ronnie brings out the worst in Archie, and he gets vicious. Archie wants to put right these long-standing problems he has with Ronnie. But things just get worse."" [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a109894/mitchells-come-to-blows-on-enders.html Mitchells come to blows on 'Enders] ", "Digital Spy". URL last accessed 2008-07-13.] An "EastEnders" source said of their relationship: "At the moment she has to play the game to get what she wants. But she is more than a match for Archie - and with Phil as back-up she is able to take him on. And one thing is for sure - it's going to be a spectacular war between these two."

Background

Archie is the father of Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell. He was born to his parents, Phil and Sandra Mitchell at an unspecified time; he also had an older brother Eric an another brother Clive. He was known to be a warm, charismatic man to those he came across, in particular his sister-in-law Peggy Mitchell, whom he helped out when she suffered at the hands of his violent brother Eric.

However behind closed doors Archie was shown to be a nasty man. He repeatedly had affairs with other women behind his wife's back, which led to Glenda becoming a bitter and broken woman who eventually escaped to Australia when she couldn't handle the pain Archie was putting her through. Archie used to leave a watch that Ronnie and Roxy bought for him out in the hall as a sign that Ronnie had done something wrong. He would then leave it a couple of days, and then he would deprive her of something that she had really wanted as a punishment. Ronnie also had found an injured pigeon that she wanted to adopt, but Archie wrung his neck.

He then proceeded to take his pregnant 14-year-old daughter Ronnie away from the family home to distant relatives, where she gave birth to her daughter Amy in 1988. After the birth Archie then took the baby away from Ronnie and put her up for adoption, leaving his daughter heartbroken that resulted in a hatred for him. As a result Ronnie walked out on him in 1993 when she was 19 years old, and Archie hadn't seen her since.

torylines

Archie was first seen on 8 July 2008 when his daughter Ronnie and former sister-in-law Peggy turned up on his doorstep in Dorset. Peggy and Ronnie had been searching for Ronnie's pregnant sister Roxy, who had done a runner from Ibiza. Peggy knew that she was staying with Archie, but neglected to inform Ronnie of this due to fear of Ronnie not turning up.Ronnie was furious to come face-to-face with her estranged father, and wanted nothing to do with him. Later that evening, Archie and Peggy caught up over a bottle of red wine, and Archie admitted to Peggy that he had fought cancer in the past. He held out hope that he could regain his relationship with Ronnie, but Ronnie remained defiant that her father was a monster. It was soon found out that Archie knew where Amy was, and that she had died 13 years previously in the bath. Ronnie was defiant saying he was lying to make her angry and upset, Archie ripped her locket from around her neck, Ronnie hit him, before he pinned her down by the neck on the sofa, saying she wasn't going to take Roxy away from him. Roxy entered, seeing Ronnie on the floor in a dishevelled mess, holding her locket. Roxy agreed to move back to London with her if Ronnie and Archie made up which she thought they did. Ronnie leaned in for a pretend kiss and said I'll kiss your gravestone when you're dead.. Archie then persuaded Peggy to make a go of things while they can, and informed Ronnie that he'd see her in London in a few weeks. Ronnie got in the car, and he gave her a grin and raised his glass, making Ronnie fume with anger. On 1 August 2008, Archie and Peggy walked into the Vic in the aftermath to Sean Slater and Roxy's wedding, and it was revealed that Archie had proposed to Peggy himself and she accepted. On 8 August, Peggy revealed that her and Archie had set the date of their spring wedding, for March 21 2009 but have now decided to have their wedding in November, much to Ronnie's dislike she was told to leave by Peggy.

On 9th October 2008, Peggy had been spying around Archie by sending texts from Suzy Branning's mobile phone just to test what he is up to, but due to this problem when he finds out, Archie tells her they might as well postpone their wedding as he feels that she doesn't trust him.

Reception

Diederick Santer has commented "I've only seen a handful of scenes that Larry's done so far but I think he's giving a mesmerising and multi-layered performance. There's quite a buzz coming up from the set, and I'm really excited about him." [" [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a94856/diederick-santer-executive-producer-eastenders.html EXCLUSIVE: Diederick Santer (Executive Producer, 'EastEnders')] , "Digital Spy". URL last accessed 2008-06-14.] Tim Teeman, critic for "The Times", has described Archie as "a thousand times more terrifying than Nick Cotton" and "a psycho in a golf jersey." [" [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article4438066.ece EastEnders; Colin Jackson: The Making of Me; Snog, Marry, Avoid] , "The Times". URL last accessed 2008-06-14.]

References

External links

*EEcharlink|archie_m|Archie Mitchell