EastEnders newbie Elijah Holloway once auditioned for X Factor judge in talent show
Actor Elijah Holloway is set to make his soap debut on EastEnders as Harry Mitchell, one of Stevie's three sons, and it's not the first time he's been on the BBC
EastEnders newcomer Elijah Holloway had a taste of the limelight before landing his gig on the iconic BBC soap as part of the fresh Mitchell clan.
The soap confirmed earlier this week that Elijah will be joining the cast as Stevie Mitchell’s second family – Teddy, Harry and Barney – are set to storm into Albert Square. Football Factory legend Roland Manookian is set to portray Teddy, with Elijah and Lewis Bridgeman taking on the roles of Harry and Barney.
Elijah, who’ll be playing Harry, hinted that he might be stirring up some drama in Walford. “Harry has a lot of charm and swagger, but he’s got a bit of a temper, too. He can’t resist trouble, or the ladies, so he’s ready to shake things up,” he dished on his new role.
Before his EastEnders break, Elijah had a fleeting brush with celebs when he tried out for the BBC talent show Let It Shine back in 2017. At just 18, Elijah was introduced to the judges as a perfume seller, using his day job skills to impress the likes of Glee’s Amber Riley, The X Factor’s Dannii Minogue, Take That’s Gary Barlow and ex-EastEnders actor Martin Kemp.
Elijah pitched: “I’d say, Amber, you’re looking for a spicy rich fragrance. Gary, you’re looking for something floral. Light. Like yourself. I’d say Dannii, you’re definitely looking for something elegant, quite sophisticated.”
When it came to Martin, Elijah reckoned he was after something with a more “wooden” vibe. Spandau Ballet legend Martin hit back: “I know I was in EastEnders for a while but that’s below the belt I thought!”
Elijah quickly tried to smooth things over, insisting: “And by wooden I mean mature and elegant.” Fast forward seven years and Elijah is all about his fresh gig on the soap. “It’s a massive privilege to join a British institution like EastEnders, and to be playing a Mitchell makes it even more exciting,” he gushed recently.
“We’ve been given such a warm welcome, and it’s unbelievable to be turning up to work in Walford every day,” he added, noting Harry’s got a mix of charm and swagger, but also a fiery side.
“He can’t resist trouble, or the ladies, so he’s ready to shake things up.” EastEnders’ boss Chris Clenshaw spilled the beans on the upcoming Mitchell drama: “I’m delighted to welcome Roland, Elijah and Lewis to EastEnders as we bring a new branch of the iconic Mitchell family to the Square.
“The arrival of Teddy, Harry and Barney will be a seismic shock for Billy and an unwelcome surprise for Phil. With their arrival sparking more questions than answers, it’s not long before the Mitchells find themselves at war as Teddy and his sons are thrust into the heart of the drama.”
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
