OMG SHOCKING!!! Who is Russell Delaney in EastEnders to the Mitchells as Mark is held hostage?
EastEnders has made reference to Russell Delaney, an old acquaintance of Grant and Phil Mitchell’s (Ross Kemp and Steve McFadden), who has been making Mark Fowler Jr’s (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) life a living hell.
Mark, as viewers know, has got himself wrapped up in dodgy dealings since returning to the Square, begging uncle Phil to bail him out when he got in over his head.
Though Phil has left the world of criminality and corruption in the past, his reputation proceeds him and thus he was able to buy Mark some time to pay back the money he owes.
Phil suggested at the time that he work off his debt with shifts at the Boxing Den, using the money he earns to pay off the gangsters who are hounding him.
Mark has also been dealing in dodgy cars with Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) but despite his best efforts, he’s not succeeded in raising enough cash to keep the baddies from his door.
With estranged dad Grant back in Walford, Mark is adamant that he wants to sort this mess by himself but Grant is determined to prove himself to his son and therefore – given that he, Phil and Sam (Kim Medcalf) go way back with kingpin Russell – he takes matters into his own hands.
But just who is this Russell Delaney who keeps getting name-dropped? We have the answers – and his secret connection to Sam has now been confirmed.
Who is Russell Delaney in EastEnders and what’s his connection to the Mitchells?
As made clear in recent episodes, Russell Delaney is an old acquaintance of the Mitchell family. However, he had not appeared in the show before last week.
Hearing his name this week proved a blast from the past for Sam, who notified nephew Mark that she knew him from ‘years ago’, underplaying their true connection which would later come to light.
In Wednesday’s (May 13) edition of the BBC One soap, Mark sought a loan from Phil, who offered to pay £30,000. Mark was still short £60,000 and thus Grant wanted answers about the mess his son has got himself into.
Phil revealed that Delaney is a ‘big deal’ in the world of criminality. ‘You know him from years ago. Used to knock about in Limehouse’.
The revelation left Grant reeling as he remembered Russell as the ‘plank that used to run the door down at Elsie’s.’
Grant wanted his number, hoping to reason with him, but Phil reiterated that they ‘hated’ each other. Grant was adamant he can handle Russell but it turned out that he slept with his wife years ago – and this just made the situation so much worse!
Mark was subsequently taken hostage by Delaney, who doubled the young man’s debt as he had him kidnapped and thrown in the back of the van.
The situation reaches a dramatic peak in upcoming scenes on the day of Nigel Bates’ (Paul Bradley) funeral – and more secrets about his past with Sam come to light!
It turns out that, after Grant slept with his wife, Russell turned his attention to Sam, with the two having a relationship of sorts.
Sam, however, wasn’t pleased when Russell got back with his wife and therefore stole a chain from the bedside table in revenge.
Actor Anthony Skordi plays Russel Delaney in EastEnders.
Anthony’s career began with guest roles in Soldier Soldier and The Bill. He went on to feature in dramas including Law & Order: Organised Crime, CBS’s Scorpion, and Prime Suspect 1973.
Gaming fans will recognise Anthony’s voice, as he portrayed The Dealer in Hand of Fate, Tenebrae in Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Admiral Garrick Versio in Star Wars Battlefront II.
His voice is also recognisable as Pythagoras in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.