Honey Mitchell 2996877 226052628 2008-07-16T16:49:08Z Trampikey 539223 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 226050120 by [[Special:Contributions/Rodhullandemu|Rodhullandemu]] ([[User talk:Rodhullandemu|talk]]) {{Infobox EastEnders character 2 |image=[[Image:HONEY EDWARDS00.jpg|200px]] |character_name=Honey Mitchell |actor_name=[[Emma Barton]] |years=2005&ndash;2008 |first=[[22 November]] [[2005]] |books= |dob=[[29 February]] [[1976]] |introducer=[[Kate Harwood]] |dod= |status=[[Married]] |occupation=Laundrette assistant |home=[[Walford Towers]] |father= [[Jack Edwards (EastEnders)|Jack Edwards]] |mother= Janet Edwards |husband= [[Billy Mitchell (EastEnders)|Billy Mitchell]] (2006—) |daughters = [[Janet Mitchell]] |sons=[[William Mitchell (EastEnders)|William Mitchell]] |aunts = [[Caroline Bishop]] }} '''Susan "Honey" Mitchell''' (née '''Edwards''') is a [[fictional character]] in the [[BBC]] [[soap opera]] ''[[EastEnders]]''. She is played by [[Emma Barton]]. She made her first appearance in the show on [[22 November]] [[2005]]. It was reported on [[19 April]] [[2008]] that she had been axed from ''EastEnders'', and that she will be making her last appearance in Summer 2008.<ref>"[http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article1063193.ece Honey is axed from EastEnders]"</ref> <ref>"[http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/news/3168 EastEnders Honey gets the chop]"</ref> ==Character creation and development== The character Honey Edwards was introduced in November 2005 by the executive producer Kate Harwood, as a love interest for [[Billy Mitchell (EastEnders)|Billy Mitchell]] ([[Perry Fenwick]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/pick_of_the_day/article227793.ece|title= BEST SOAP: EastEnders|publisher=[[The Sun]]|date=[[22 November]] [[2005]]|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> Actress Emma Barton was chosen to play the role in September 2005, after a successful screen test with Perry Fenwick.<ref>{{cite episode |title= ''Richard & Judy''|series= Richard & Judy|network=[[Channel 4]] |airdate=2007}}</ref> Barton commented, "I can’t wait to join ''EastEnders'' and play Honey. She’s a really sweet girl, who always wants to do the best for everyone but she’s not exactly the brightest star in the sky."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a24557/honey-trap-heads-for-walford.html|title=Honey trap heads for Walford|publisher=''Digital Spy''|date=[[21 September]] [[2005]]|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> ===Down's syndrome=== A relationship between Honey and Billy was quickly developed, and within two months, an upcoming baby had been introduced into the characters' narratives, with Honey announcing she was pregnant in January 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article229327.ece|title=It's Billy the kid at last|publisher=''The Sun''|author=Sra Nathan|date=[[21 September]] [[2005]]|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> The pregnancy was the start of an on-going storyline about [[Down's Syndrome]] (DS) as in September 2006, Honey and Billy's baby, [[Janet Mitchell|Janet]], was diagnosed with the disorder shortly after her birth. ''EastEnders''' producers began to work on the DS plot in February 2006. Real parents with Down's children were approached to act as consultants in the making of the storyline - meeting with writers and the actors who play Billy and Honey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/tvradio/eastenders.shtml|title=It's a disablity thing|publisher=''BBC''|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> On-screen, Honey was shown to be devastated, rejecting her baby and wanting to have her adopted, while Billy wanted to keep his daughter, placing strain on the couple, who married in the serial the day of Janet's birth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/real_life/article71114.ece|title=Could you raise a Down's child?|publisher=''The Sun''|date=[[14 November]] [[2006]]|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> The Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) worked with ''EastEnders'' on the storyline. Their medical advisers were consulted about possible health problems that Billy and Honey’s baby might encounter. According to the DSA in 2006, DS people are under-represented on mainstream television, and ''EastEnders'' helped to redress that imbalance. The DSA used their influence to change certain elements of the scripts that they were unhappy with, such as persuading them to change the way Billy and Honey were told of their baby’s diagnosis; however, they had no influence over the characters' reactions or the plot in general. For the first two weeks after Janet's diagnosis, the DSA provided a helpline for worried parents or anyone wanting advice about DS. ''EastEnders'' also provided a link to the DSA website from theirs, to ensure that people looking for information could find the association.<ref name="dsa">{{cite web|url=http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/pdfs/FAQ.doc|title=Eastenders - FAQs|publisher=''DSA''|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> The storyline was developed with characterisation in mind. Some characters, such as [[Peggy Mitchell]], were shown to respond negatively towards the Mitchells DS baby; views that were included so that the positive aspects could be voiced by the "more enlightened characters". The programme makers' main priority was to show the reality of having a child with the condition, "with all of its positives and negatives" and "create awareness among thousands of people who know very little about Down’s syndrome, who might have out-dated or prejudiced views." ''EastEnders'' took advice from DS organisations and families of DS people throughout. Care was taken to ensure that viewers empathised with Billy and Honey, to portray their journey in a "realistic way".<ref name="dsa"/> The DSA have expressed their desire to see a Down’s syndrome character becoming a permanent member of the ''EastEnders'' cast, as "it would be a fantastic opportunity to bring Down’s syndrome into mainstream awareness, and to present a 21st century picture of family life for those who have children with the condition." In 2006, ''EastEnders'' pledged that they intended for Billy and Honey’s baby to grow up as any other baby would in the soap; however, it has been noted that the plot is dependent on the actors involved, and other practical problems that could arise. ''EastEnders'' pledged to make every effort to portray "a positive image of a family who have a baby with the condition."<ref name="dsa"/> ====Reception of DS storyline==== The episodes received criticism for innaccuracy.<ref name="jacob">{{cite web|url=http://www.24dash.com/news/Health/2006-09-13-BBC-soap-EastEnders-slammed-over-Downs-Syndrome-baby-birth|title=BBC soap EastEnders slammed over Down's Syndrome baby birth|publisher=''24dash.com''|date=[[13 September]] [[2006]]|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> Sue Jacob, a teacher at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said ''EastEnders'' presented a "poor picture of midwifery practice". During Janet's birth, Honey was refused an [[epidural]] while in pain, and later she was told that her baby had Down's syndrome alone, without her partner or family there to support her.<ref name="jacob"/> Jacob commented, "Women are vulnerable after giving birth and they need support systems in place [...] The person caring for her is repeatedly referred to as a nurse in the episode but there is no way that a nurse would be in charge after birth. The midwife would also have been open and honest and said 'We need to get the baby checked out and we will get your partner' [...] What the soaps do is set scenes which prompt people to talk about things which are affecting their lives. We are concerned people will wrongly think this Down’s syndrome story shows what really happens, and that if you have a problem there is no one there to support you. Showing something like this is not helpful."<ref name="jacob"/><ref name="crit">{{cite web|url=http://www.staffnurse.com/nursing-news-articles/bbc-criticised-over-eastenders-down-s-syndrome-storyline-2137.html|title=BBC Criticised Over Eastenders Down's Syndrome Storyline|publisher=''staffnurse.com''|date=[[13 October]] [[2006]]|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> Furthermore, Jacob noted that Honey was left alone for a long time to worry about the baby, which appeared rigid, and not floppy, as Down's babies do.<ref name="jacob"/> In Jacob's opinion, a midwife would have been repeatedly in and out of the room to check on the mother. Additionally, one episode showed a [[health visitor]] reprimanding Honey for refusing Down’s syndrome screening and Karen Reay, director of the Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association called the episode "insensitive and patronising". She added that the episode contained "glaring anomalies", giving new mothers a "fictitious and misleading" view of health visitors, which could "damage relationships with health professionals".<ref name="crit"/> The BBC responded by saying, "''EastEnders'' has undertaken a great deal of research to script the storyline of Billy and Honey giving birth to their baby daughter. ''EastEnders'' takes enormous care with its research and takes advice from experts in the given field. In addition, for this particular storyline ''EastEnders'' talked to numerous families with children who have Down's Syndrome. Some of their experiences were depicted in these early episodes. Also closely involved was a senior midwife from a large UK general hospital who saw all scripts. In relation to some particular points raised, Honey was not denied an epidural - she made the choice to put herself out of reach of communicating effectively with the midwife by locking herself in the bathroom. When the news was broken to Honey and Billy that their baby had Down's Syndrome, ''EastEnders'' has in fact drawn directly from one particular true-life story - and while this may indeed not be best practice it is worth saying that good drama does not necessarily come from best practice."<ref name="jacob"/> Despite the BBC's "extensive search" to cast a real Down's baby for the birth episodes, they were unable to do so, resulting in the shots of the newborn baby being less authentic and limited.<ref name="jacob"/> The BBC added, "In the coming weeks Honey and Billy's child will be played by a baby with Down's Syndrome. It is worth noting that ''EastEnders'' has received incredibly positive feedback from the Down's Syndrome Association following the first few episodes, whom we are continuing to work with very closely." Carol Boys, chief executive of the Down's Syndrome Association, has confrimed that 40% of parents whose babies were diagnosed after birth were given no written or practical information about the condition, and 11% were told, as Honey was, by a midwife rather than a paediatrician: "The way in which Billy and Honey have learnt of their baby's disability, and their subsequent support from their health professionals, is not a best-practice model. However, neither is it an unrealistic situation. BBC researchers and scriptwriters have based the scenes on conversations with families who have children with Down's Syndrome, and the scenes have struck a chord with thousands of our parent members across the country. Some health professionals hold outdated or prejudiced views about people with Down's Syndrome that prevent them from giving parents a balanced picture of what the future will hold for them."<ref name="jacob"/> ===Raid on the Vic; Honey's second pregnancy=== The scenes in which Honey was attacked were subject to heavy criticism in 2007, with [[Ofcom]] receiving 78 complaints from viewers about the level of violence displayed, and concerns for the safety of her baby. The media regulatory body stated that: "In Ofcom's view the violence was not appropriately limited for this time of the evening when many children are available to view television."<ref name="guardian">{{cite web|author=John Plunkett|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/25/bbc.television2?gusrc=rss&feed=media|title= EastEnders violence ruled out of order|publisher=[[The Guardian]]|date=[[25 February]] [[2008]]|accessdate=2008-03-05}}</ref> ''EastEnders'' was found to have breached the broadcasting code on this occasion, though the [[BBC]] defended itself by stating that there had been a gradual build up to the event over several episodes, and that a content warning was aired prior to the episode's broadcast.<ref name="stage">{{cite web|author=Matthew Hemley|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/19929/ofcom-raps-bbc-over-eastenders-violence|title= Ofcom raps BBC over EastEnders violence|publisher=[[The Stage]]|date=[[25 February]] [[2008]]|accessdate=2008-03-05}}</ref> ==Storylines== Honey's mother, Janet, died of a heart defect while giving birth to her. She was raised by her father [[Jack Edwards (EastEnders)|Jack]]. Her [[nickname]], Honey, was given to her by her father when she was four. One [[Christmas Day]], her father was trying to watch the [[James Bond]] film ''[[Dr. No (film)|Dr. No]]'', but she stood in front of the television demanding to play. This led to Jack nicknaming her Honey, after the character in the movie, [[Honey Ryder]]. As a child, Honey was diagnosed with a heart condition, which made her father overprotective of her. Honey was introduced in November 2005, employed by [[Yolande Trueman]] as a "[[honey trap]]" to seduce her husband [[Patrick Trueman|Patrick]] and see if he was willing to commit adultery. Honey caused confusion by mistaking [[Billy Mitchell (EastEnders)|Billy Mitchell]] for Patrick, but truth prevailed, and Honey and Billy became friends. Honey had aspirations to become a model. Billy helped her find employment, acting as her manager. Billy and Honey were attracted to each other, and after a period of trepdidation, they finally confessed their feelings, becoming a legitimate couple in December 2005. The following month, Honey fell pregnant. Overjoyed, Billy proposed and despite initial objections from her father, Jack, Honey said yes. When Jack discovered Honey was pregnant, he tried to persuade her to [[abortion|abort]] her unborn child, convinced that she would share the same fate as her mother. Not wanting to lose Honey, Billy forced her to enquire about abortion, but after a check-up, she was told that she did not have the same heart defect as her mother, and there was no danger of her dying from the same causes. Honey was furious with Jack for allowing her to be unnecessarily fearful about her health for her whole life, and she chastised him for not taking her for a check-up when she was a child. She eventually forgave her father, and began to enjoy the prospect of becoming a mother. Honey and Billy's first attempt at getting married in June 2006 ended in disaster when Honey was hospitalised due to food poisoning. The following month they tried again, but due to a series of unfortunate events — starting with a prank performed on Billy's [[stag night]] — the groom was unable to get to the ceremony on time. Their third attempt in September was arranged as a surprise by Billy's relative [[Peggy Mitchell|Peggy]]. Honey was heavily pregnant and while they were saying their vows, she started having [[contraction (childbirth)|contractions]]. She grabbed Billy and launched into a breathing exercise, then urged the vicar to continue. As Billy leaned in for a kiss after they were pronounced husband and wife, Honey revealed that her waters had broken. [[Image:Billy honey janet.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Billy and Honey Mitchell's heartache at birth of disabled baby Janet.]] Honey gave birth to a girl, [[Janet Mitchell|Janet]] (after Honey's mother), but her happiness was short-lived, as the following day she was informed that Janet had [[Down's syndrome]]. Devatsted, Honey admitted that she felt no love for the baby; she changed the child's name to Petal, as she was not the "perfect" Janet she had wanted. Honey and Billy attended a support group for parents of Down's children, but this made Honey more depressed; she broke down and destroyed Petal's nursery, admitting to Billy that she wanted Petal adopted. Billy was adverse to this and his relationship with Honey suffered as a result. Honey tried, but could not accept her baby, and at her lowest ebb she considered [[infanticide|smothering Petal with a pillow]], but could not bring herself to do it. Petal was fostered by [[Tony Smith (EastEnders)|Tony]] and [[Kim Smith (EastEnders)|Kim Smith]] in December 2006, but the next day, [[May Wright|Dr. May Wright]] told Billy that Petal needed a heart operation. Billy arranged for Petal to be [[baptism|baptised]] in case she did not survive the operation, and after reading a heartfelt letter from Billy to Petal, Honey changed her mind about giving her daughter away; she attended the baptism and informed the vicar that she was naming the baby Janet after all. Janet's operation was a success, and Honey began to bond with her. In March 2007, Honey discovered she was pregnant with her second child. Billy was apprehensive, fearing they might love the new baby more than Janet, but Honey was quick to reassure him and they both looked forward to the arrival of their new baby. However, in November 2007, Honey was knocked down whilst trying to prevent an attack on [[Jase Dyer]]. This caused her [[placenta]] to become dislodged from the [[uterus|uterine wall]], and Honey went into labour. She was rushed to hospital where she gave birth to a boy, who appeared to be [[stillborn]], but he survived after resuscitation, and Honey named him William, after Billy. The Mitchells remained happy until December 2007, when their landlady, [[Manju Patel]], threatened to evict them from their flat. Billy was unable to raise their rent money and despite attempts to barricade themselves in the flat, Mrs Patel threw them out, leaving the entire family homeless before Christmas. They went to stay with Peggy in the Queen Vic until January 2008 and then with Pat for several months. After moving out of Pat's into a flat at Walford Towers Honey, Billy, Janet and William weren't seen on screen for several months. On the 7th of July, Honey and Billy moved back into The Vic as their flat is being redecorated. After Peggy and Ronnie went to find Roxy, Sean held William hostage and threatened to drop him out of the window. Billy then explained that neither he or Honey knew about the pregnancy and Sean agreed to let him go. Honey is set to leave in Summer 2008 with a big storyline. To date, nothing has been mentioned as to how or even what happens that will coincide with her exit. ==Reception== In September 2006, [[Steve Frost]], head producer of ''EastEnders''<nowiki>'</nowiki> rival soap ''[[Coronation Street]]'', publicly branded Honey and the Down's syndrome storyline as "Painful to watch [...] wooden and emotionless - crap." ''EastEnders''' executive producer, Kate Harwood, defended the storyline, saying "We had incredible feedback on our Down's storyline. Fans were moved."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/archive/2006/09/20/exclusive-eastender-crap-jibe-89520-17784879/|title= EXCLUSIVE: EASTENDER 'CRAP' JIBE|publisher=[[Daily Mirror]]|date=[[20 September]] [[2006]]|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> ==References== <references/> ==External links== {{Wikiquote|EastEnders#Honey Mitchell (née Edwards)|Honey Mitchell}} *{{EEcharlink|honey_e}} {{EastEnders}} {{EEMitchells}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Honey}} [[Category:EastEnders characters]] [[Category:Fictional bartenders]] [[Category:Fictional models]]