I splashed out on a Phil Mitchell tattoo – I’m his biggest superfan…but here’s why I’d never hug him
AN EASTENDERS superfan has splashed out on a Phil Mitchell tattoo – but revealed the reason she’ll never hug him.
Rachel Forsythe, from Northern Ireland, is obsessed with the popular TV character and has his name inked on her skin.
Rachel, 19, became a superfan after watching dozens of classic episodes of EastEnders.
She said: “Phil Mitchell has become a part of my life – I watch him all the time.
The healthcare assistant from Craigavon decided to splash £50 on a tattoo of his name during a holiday in Magaluf last year.
Rachel’s family were left in shock when she came back home with the tattoo all over her wrist.
She explained: “I thought my mum would be fuming – she kept saying ‘don’t you dare, don’t you dare.’
“It only took 15 minutes – and I FaceTimed my mum as soon as we got back to the hotel.
“She took it quite well and I’ve never seen anyone else have a negative reaction to it.
“I’ll never regret getting the tattoo and will definitely be keeping it for life.”
The healthcare assistant, from Craigavon in the County Armagh, said to have spent over £200 on merchandise of Phil Mitchell.
Items include jumpers, candles, mugs, calendars and a car air freshener with his face – which she refuses to replace, despite it “losing its smell three months ago”.
Rachel said her mum, Sarah Jensen, was the one who introduced the long-running soap to her when she was only nine.
She was hooked to the screen again when the episodes were uploaded to BBC iPlayer during the 2020 lockdown,
The teen then fell in love with Phil Mitchell as a character.
The superfan explained: “I became obsessed then, and just started watching it 24/7 – which is when Phil started becoming a favourite character.
“I just think he’s so interesting – yes, he’s the bad guy in the Square who always has something dramatic going on.
“But as much as he’s a hard character, he’s got such a soft side as well.”
The loyal fan said she even celebrates her birthday with a Phil Mitchell birthday cake every year.
Rachel now hopes to meet actor Steve McFadden soon to show him the tattoo and ask him about his time on the show.
She added: “He’s quite a quiet man in real life – he’s not on social media or anything.
“My mum tried to get me a Cameo video for my birthday, but we couldn’t find him.
“I’ve heard he’s actually quite shy – so I wouldn’t run up to him and hug him or anything.
“I’d just like to show him my tattoo and have a good chat with him about his time on EastEnders, that’s all.”
It comes as another reality TV fan shared the unique tattoo she got as a tribute to her favourite show.
The Jersey Shore fanatic showed her followers the ink, which she claimed was a great conversation starter.
Elsewhere, a woman said she impulsively got a whopping tattoo on her leg whilst on holiday when she was just 16-years-old, but now massively regrets it.
Not only is her inking wonky, but she said it’s too thick and looks like it’s straight off of Pinterest.