Honey’s world comes ‘crashing down’ in EastEnders as Bea takes action

Poor, sweet Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton), potentially the kindest character currently in EastEnders, so kind is she that Honey has refused to believe what everyone else can plainly see: Bea Pollard (Ronni Ancona) is as nutty as squirrel droppings!

‘I think Honey feels that Bea is really misunderstood, and I think Honey can relate to that’ Emma mused on her character’s approach to Bea.

Suggesting some similarities between the two characters, she added: ‘A lot of people throughout Honey’s life have always underestimated her, and thought she was a bit silly.

‘Honey’s always had to fight for approval in some ways, so when we go back years ago to when she finally got the job of being market inspector, that was such a big moment for Honey as she had always felt like she was the last option.

‘I think Honey sees some similarities in Bea, and although everyone has such strong opinions of Bea, Honey sees the good, or rather wants to see the good in her. I think she thinks everyone treats Bea unfairly.’

It’s incredibly clear that Bea wants Honey all to herself, and is actively working to eliminate her husband, Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) from the picture.

Next week, after a date between husband and wife turned bad, Bea spots her chance to boot the wedge even further into their relationship and later throws a grenade that has the potential to destroy them forever.

According to Honey, Emma isn’t in a particularly good space after the date and is ripe for Bea’s mind games: ‘It’s a tough one because don’t forget Honey is currently very hormonal and very peri-menopausal, and she is doubting herself.

‘She is doubting who she is as a woman, and I think the signal she’s got from Billy, and especially after this failed date, is maybe she’s not attractive anymore.

‘Maybe he doesn’t fancy her anymore, and that’s really hard for her to process.’

On Bea’s attempts to pull Honey and Billy apart, Emma said: ‘Honey definitely knows that there is no love lost between Billy and Bea, and she is constantly trying to convince Billy to warm to her.

‘Honey is people pleasing, and trying to make them both be friends. After the ladder accident, and after everyone accused Bea of being the culprit, I think Honey has been trying to make Billy give her another chance. With the credit card debacle, a lot of the money Bea spent was on gifts for Honey, so I think she is trying to see the good in the bad, and trying to convince Billy to also.

‘When I say it out loud, I think Honey has been a bit silly! But they say love is blind, and she cares for her friend, and she makes excuses for her behaviour.’

Fully aware of Bea’s game, Billy turns to Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) to help get rid of her, and he gives her an envelope of cash, telling her to disappear from Albert Square for good.

Bea refuses to be intimidated, though, and fires back at the Mitchells in the Vic, revealing their plan in front of Honey, while also accusing Billy of trying to sleep with her.

‘This is the worst-case scenario that anyone could be put in. It’s so embarrassing for Honey,’ Emma said of the dramatic twist.

‘It’s humiliating as she feels she has been let down by the two closest people to her. Her husband, and what she believes is her best friend.

She’s thinking, for one, ‘why on earth would you announce this in a public place’, and secondly, she’s thinking ‘what is going on?!’

‘Her world has come crashing down in an instant, and she doesn’t know what to do.’

As Honey’s personal life crumbles in front of her eyes, Emma is enjoying the process behind the scenes: ‘It’s brilliant,’ she smiled.

‘I couldn’t have wished to be working with anyone else on this story. When the cameras stop rolling, we have such a giggle, but it’s been a dream, and I’ve loved every minute of it.’