EastEnders legend Steve McFadden has been renowned for playing Phil Mitchell since 1990, and whilst his on-screen persona is recognised across the nation, he keeps his personal life largely private.

Prior to achieving stardom on television, Steve worked in various roles including labourer, carrot picker, plumber, and builder’s merchant and now enjoys a peaceful existence in a Cornish seaside town.

Throughout the years, his character Phil has been at the centre of countless gripping storylines, including his turbulent relationship with brother Grant and the memorable ‘Who Shot Phil?’ saga more than twenty years ago.

For his on-screen performances, Steve has received considerable recognition for his craft. Throughout his tenure on the programme, he has claimed Best Soap Actor at the Inside Soap Awards alongside the Outstanding Achievement Award at The British Soap Awards in 2016, reports the Mirror.

Beyond the chaos of Albert Square, McFadden divides his time between three locations: London, Majorca and Falmouth, Cornwall where he has maintained a property since the 90s. Speaking to CornwallLive in 2017, Steve described Falmouth as his “second home”, revealing that without his EastEnders obligations, he would opt to reside there permanently.

He voiced his appreciation for the region’s angling prospects, cuisine, beer, and welcoming residents, stating: “I get down as often as I can. It’s my second home, if it wasn’t for EastEnders it would be my first choice of residence, but because of the show I have to be in London more.”

However, when questioned about relocating to the region after his BBC One programme ends, he remarked: “I don’t see myself living in one place. My son lives in Majorca – I’ll go there, spend a bit of time in London and a bit of time in Cornwall. Everything you want is there – the metropolis of London, the sunshine of Majorca and the feelgood factor of Cornwall.”

Beyond Albert Square, Steve previously had a romance with EastEnders colleague Lucy Benjamin, who coincidentally portrayed his on-screen spouse Lisa.

The duo started their relationship in 1999, though regrettably ended things just a few years afterwards in 2003.

Despite their romance failing to last, the two performers have retained a solid friendship.

Lucy previously revealed on ITV’s Loose Women how much she relished collaborating with Steve following her Albert Square comeback in 2017.

She remarked: “There is so much stuff between Lisa and Phil. It was easy to play that. It was strange really, but lovely to be working with Steve, Tish and Natalie Cassidy again.”

She continued: “It was strange really but within 10 minutes it was like I’d never been away. It felt like reuniting with old friends and I knew they would take good care of me upon my return.”

Steve now resides with his partner Karen Cairns, with whom he shares daughter Frankie. The busy father-of-five is also dad to son Matt and daughters Teona, Mollie Jane, and Amelie Tinkerbell.

His eldest is shared with Sue Marshall, whilst daughters Teona and Mollie Jane are with Angela Bostock.

Discussing the delights of parenthood, Steve previously told The Observer: “When I was a kid, if I was unhappy, I’d stroke my dog. I was into bringing injured birds into the house, RSPCA activities.

“And the relationship that you have with animals, you can get that from your children: that unquestioning love and adoration and equal need. However the world judges you, if you do your kid two slices of toast for breakfast, you’ve achieved what you are on the planet to do.”