Mickey Miller

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Mickey Miller
EastEnders character
Summer Swann

Mickey Miller is a fictional character from the

Albert Square. It was announced on 25 February 2008 that the characters of Mickey and his stepfather Keith had been axed by EastEnders' executive producer Diederick Santer
. Mickey left on 1 July 2008. In July 2011, it was announced Swash would reprise his role for the departure storyline of his screen brother Darren and appeared for two episodes on 19 and 20 September 2011.

Character creation and development

Creation

The role of Mickey Miller was played by Joe Swash. The actor had originally auditioned for the part of Spencer Moon, which was eventually cast to Christopher Parker. However, the BBC bosses saw potential, and six months later, Swash was offered the part of Spencer's friend, Mickey.[1]

The character was originally supposed to appear in only six episodes, but Mickey proved so popular with viewers that the soap's executive producer, Louise Berridge, decided to make him into a regular character. Swash has commented, "I'm pleased it happened that way, I have done it on my own merit rather than coming in as part of a family. It's a bit more special."[1]

The BBC has described Mickey as a "lovable character" and "a happy-go-lucky wide boy."[2] They continued, "Mickey is always on the look-out for a scam and a chance to make some easy money".[3]

Introducing Mickey's family

For his first year in the soap, little was known about the character's background, which Swash commented on in an interview with the

Kat and Alfie's wedding and I thought, 'Hang on, where's my family? Why have I abandoned them on Christmas Day to go to some wedding?' But I'm sure it'll all become clear. I think they're going to get in some other characters around Mickey, some family and friends, so we'll find out more about him."[1]

In April 2004, the casting team held workshops, screen tests and script readings with the potential actors for Mickey's family. Shana Swash, the sister of Joe Swash, was cast as Mickey's younger half sister Demi Miller.[4] Other family members included stepfather Keith (David Spinx), mother Rosie (Gerry Cowper) and half brother Darren (Charlie G. Hawkins). The family were publicised as "troublemakers" who were joining "in order to drum up conflict with existing characters." Louise Berridge said, "This lot are trouble. Even the dog is dodgy [...] They're set to cause havoc all over the square...". The family's introduction in September 2004 followed a survey in The Mirror newspaper which suggested that 57% of EastEnders viewers thought the soap had lost its appeal.[5]

Mickey as he appeared in 2004.

Joe Swash has revealed that giving Mickey a family was not the producers' original plan for the character, but he was pleased when he was told of the development one year prior to their introduction: "Before, I was in and out all the time. I didn't really know where I stood as an actor. Now that the family are here, I feel like Mickey's a more regular character. I'm really happy about it [...] I didn't know exactly what they'd be like until about three or four months ago. They're really different which I think is good. I'm really pleased with them [...] they're really close. They won't hear a bad word said about each other. They'll kid each other in private, but in public they rally round and stick up for each other [...] [Mickey's] a bit of a mummy's boy."[6]

The following year, Mickey's family was completed by the introduction of his elder sister

Mike Swann (a guest character played by Mark Wingett), who both made their first appearance in a special week of off-set episodes, set in France in September 2005.[7] In the storyline, Mickey went to France with some of his friends to visit his sister, and was surprised to see his estranged father, who had abandoned him as a child.[8]

Development

As a "wheeler-dealer", Mickey bonded particularly well with another dodgy dealer on the Square, Mo Harris (Laila Morse).[2] Swash has commented, "It's natural for Mickey and Mo to be close because they're so similar. They're into the same things and doing business."[6] Their interaction was mostly used for comedic purposes. In 2004, the duo were featured in a special plot to highlight the BBC's fundraising event Sport Relief, which tackles poverty and disadvantage, both in the UK and internationally. On-screen, Mickey competed in the Fitness First Sport Relief Mile, to raise money via sponsoring. As part of the storyline, Mo encouraged Mickey to keep the sponsorship money for himself, though Mickey eventually did "the right thing", donating the money to charity. Commenting on the storyline, Swash said, "Mickey is always trying to make money through some scam or another. But this time he has realised that there are people in this country and around the world who are much worse off than he is and he is determined to do his bit to help raise money for Sport Relief and help improve the lives of others."[3]

Relationships were featured in the character's narrative, initially with

Li Chong (Elaine Tan) in 2007, a fellow wheeler-dealer. The characters' storylines mainly concentrated on money-making schemes, including Li's cannabis farm, and her attempt to "pimp" Mickey as a male escort; however, the relationship ended when Mickey started getting too serious, and Li left the serial in July 2007 when the character was written out.[13]

In February 2008, it was announced that Mickey and his stepfather Keith were being axed from EastEnders. The characters were two of several axed by executive producer Diederick Santer that year.[14] Others included Gus Smith, Steven Beale, and Honey Mitchell. Their axing led to further disbandment of the Miller/Swann family. Both Mickey and Keith survived the axe in 2006 when Rosie and Demi Miller were written out.[15] Darren Miller and Dawn Swann, the only remaining family members, were kept on.

Swash had been forced to take a three-month break from the serial after he contracted meningoencephalitis — a rare form of viral meningitis, which makes the brain swell up.[16] EastEnders' writers were reported to be "frantically reworking scripts" to explain Mickey's sudden disappearance.[16]

After being involved in a high-profile storyline that saw the Millers' home burned down in a gas explosion in June 2008, Mickey departed the serial two weeks later, joining his mother and sister for a new start. He departed on 1 July 2008.

On 17 July 2011, it was reported that Swash would reprise the role of Mickey the following week as part of a storyline focusing on Mickey's brother, Darren (Hawkins). Mickey's reappearance for two episodes was scripted to coincide with Darren's exit storyline.[17] Mickey will appear from 19 September 2011.[18]

In 2016, Swash expressed an interest in reprising the role of Mickey.[19]

Storylines

Backstory

Mickey is the son of

Mike Swann (Mark Wingett) and Rosie Miller (Gerry Cowper). Mike left the family when Mickey was just three years old. He grew up with his sister Dawn and later his half siblings Demi (Shana Swash) and Darren Miller (Charlie G. Hawkins). He has always considered his mother's long-term partner, Keith Miller, to be his father, and uses his surname.[20]

2003–2008

Mickey is first seen in

Kareena Ferreira (Pooja Shah) in 2004. Mickey falls for Kareena, but he is incensed in 2005 when he discovers that she has been using cocaine, supplied by Juley. When Kareena sees Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner
) attempting to seduce Mickey, she turns to Juley for comfort, and a fight breaks out when Mickey catches Juley attempting to kiss her. Mickey and Kareena manage to work through their problems, but shortly after Kareena leaves Walford with the rest of her family, despite previously promising Mickey that she will stay with him.

When Mickey visits his sister Dawn in

male escort
without his consent. With persuasion, Mickey agrees to do the male escorting, but Li proves too jealous of his flirtations with other women, so their scam soon ends. Li abruptly ends the relationship when Mickey starts getting too serious for her.

Mickey becomes the victim of bullying from

Summer. When Micky awakes, he manages to stop May from absconding with Summer, but she subsequently causes a gas explosion, and the Millers' house goes up in flames. May is killed in the explosion. Mickey, Dawn and Summer are trapped in a first floor bedroom. When Mickey attempts to pass Summer out the window to the awaiting crowd below, he loses consciousness and drops her, though she is caught by Jase. Dawn pushes an unconscious Mickey out the window, saving his life. Mickey discovers a letter from Rosie, offering Keith a job as a concierge at her home in the Cotswolds. All of the Millers are angry at him for not acknowledging the letter, and Mickey decides to take the job instead as he says there is nothing left for him in Walford. Later, along with Keith and their dog Genghis, Mickey leaves Walford after an emotional farewell at The Queen Victoria
pub.

2011

In September 2011, Mickey returns for Darren's wedding to Jodie Gold (Kylie Babbington). He attends the stag night and flirts with Jodie's friend Poppy Meadow (Rachel Bright) and accidentally reveals to her that Darren has had sex with bridesmaid Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa). Mickey helps Darren prepare for the wedding the following day and arranges for a car to drive them to the register office. But Darren's guilt over having sex with Lauren causes him to call the wedding off. Mickey goes for drinks at the pub with Darren and his wedding guests. He tells Darren that he has grown into a young man and is proud of him, before leaving.

Reception

The character, originally intended for one week's worth of episodes, proved popular with viewers, and was turned into a regular because of this.

In 2005, critic for The Mirror Jim Shelley branded Mickey a moron and one of EastEnders' weakest characters.[21] During a period of heavy media criticism aimed at EastEnders in 2004, Shelley stated that the serial's "Tiresome obsession with petty crime" was one of the reasons for its decline in quality, with Mickey listed as one of the soap's "myriad criminals."[22]

References

  1. ^ a b c Cox, Emma (8 February 2004). "I can cope with girl fans. After dad died I was in a house full of". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  2. ^ a b "IBBC's EastEnders welcomes the Miller family". BBC. 8 August 2004. Retrieved 15 May 2008. [dead link]
  3. ^ a b "EastEnders stars Go The Extra Mile for Sport Relief". BBC. 7 July 2004. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  4. ^ "Finding a family for Mickey". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 June 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  5. ^ "Troublemakers to join EastEnders". BBC. 9 August 2004. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  6. ^ a b c "The Swashes are here". BBC. Archived from the original on 9 March 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  7. ^ "EastEnders reveals new signings to the square". BBC. 23 June 2005. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  8. ^ "Ex-'Bill' actor to appear in 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. 24 June 2005. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  9. ^ Green, Kris (3 April 2004). "EE's Kareena 'to get makeover'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Grace Dent's world of lather". The Guardian. London. 12 March 2005. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  11. ^ Deans, Jason (14 October 2004). "Ferreiras kicked out of EastEnders". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  12. ^ "Soapville". The Guardian. 26 March 2005. Retrieved 15 May 2008.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ Gould, Lara (3 June 2007). "Fans ask if I'm sex mad". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  14. Hachette Filipacchi UK
    . Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  15. ^ "Axe falls on two 'EastEnders' characters". Digital Spy. 3 February 2006. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  16. ^ a b "EastEnder Joe Has Deadly Brain Bug". The Mirror. 4 October 2005. Retrieved 24 June 2008.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ Hill, Susan (17 July 2011). "Joe Swash returns to EastEnders". Daily Star. Northern & Shell. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  18. ^ Director: Nicky Higgens; Executive Producer: Bryan Kirkwood; Writer: Heather Robson (19 September 2011). "Episode dated 19/09/2011". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  19. ^ "Joe Swash returns to EastEnders as Mickey Miller following 5 year hiatus?". International Business Times UK. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  20. ^ "Mickey Miller". What's on TV. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  21. ^ "Sacre Blur – Leastenders in France". The Mirror. 4 October 2005. Retrieved 16 May 2008.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ "EastEnders in crisis: The Shelley Report". The Mirror. 27 July 2004. Retrieved 16 May 2008.[permanent dead link]

External links

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