An EastEnders superfan has spent hundreds on Phil Mitchell merchandise - and even has his name permanently inked on her skin.<br /><br />Rachel Forsythe, 19, became “obsessed” with the character three years ago - after watching classic episodes of the soap during lockdown.<br /><br />And on a girls’ holiday in Magaluf, she shocked friends and family by getting a £50 tattoo of his name on her wrist.<br /><br />Rachel has spent £200 overall on Phil Mitchell items including jumpers, candles, mugs, calendars and a car air freshener - which she refuses to replace, despite it “losing its smell three months ago”.<br /><br />She says she hopes to meet actor Steve McFadden soon - so she can show him the tattoo and ask him about his time on EastEnders.<br /><br />Rachel, a healthcare assistant, from Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, said: “Phil Mitchell has become a part of my life - I watch him all the time.<br /><br />“I’ll never regret getting the tattoo and will definitely be keeping it for life.<br /><br />“I just think he’s so interesting - yes, he’s the bad guy in the Square who always has something dramatic going on.<br /><br />"But as much as he’s a hard character, he’s got such a soft side as well.”<br /><br />Rachel was a casual watcher of the long-running soap from the age of nine - after being introduced to it by her mum, Sarah Jensen, 38, to it. <br /><br />But when BBC iPlayer uploaded the ‘iconic episodes’ during the 2020 lockdown, Rachel and Sarah began tuning into them regularly.<br /><br />The teen fell in love with Phil Mitchell as a character - and started spending all her money on merchandise with his face on it.<br /><br />She said: “I think my love of EastEnders came from growing up.<br /><br />"My mum was always watching it and from around nine years old I started watching too.<br /><br />“When Covid hit, they obviously stopped filming, so every Monday, BBC One would show some throwback episodes.<br /><br />“I became obsessed then, and just started watching it 24/7 - which is when Phil started becoming a favourite character.”<br /><br />Rachel has been given a Phil Mitchell birthday cake every year since - and has kitted her room and car out in Phil products.<br /><br />She has Phil Mitchell themed jumpers, candles, mugs, calendars and an air freshener, but decided to take her passion for him one step further.<br /><br />On October 13, 2022, Rachel decided on a whim to get the character's name tattooed - while on holiday with her friends in Magaluf.<br /><br />She said: “I always joked with my mum, saying I’d get his name tattooed - but I actually did it while on holiday.<br /><br />“I thought my mum would be fuming - she kept saying ‘don’t you dare, don’t you dare.’<br /><br />“But I did - and I spent 60 euros on it. He was originally going to charge me 90 euros, but I talked him down.<br /><br />“It only took 15 minutes - and I FaceTimed my mum as soon as we got back to the hotel.<br /><br />“I expected her to be absolutely livid - but she took a screenshot and posted it straight on Facebook.<br /><br />“She took it quite well and I’ve never seen anyone else have a negative reaction to it.”<br /><br />Rachel now hopes to meet her hero - despite knowing he’s “shy and timid in real life.”<br /><br />She added: “He’s quite a quiet man in real life - he’s not on social media or anything.<br /><br />“My mum tried to get me a Cameo video for my birthday, but we couldn’t find him.<br /><br />“I’ve heard he’s actually quite shy - so I wouldn’t run up to him and hug him or anything.<br /><br />“I’d just like to show him my tattoo and have a good chat with him about his time on EastEnders, that’s all.”
