Phil MitchellWalford wally Phil Mitchell steps up to his blustering hard man tricks next week.

He gets a gun and threatens Archie Mitchell with it.

Drunkard Phil (Steve McFadden) is disgusted when he finds Archie (Larry Lamb) has walked back into Walford.

He can’t believe his mum Peggy (Barbara Windsor) is willing to give him a second chance and is flabbergasted when he discovers the two of them sharing a pash.

Phil tries to strong-arm his step-dad out of the Square but is floored when Archie refuses to be bullied, telling him: “My business is with Peggy and until she says otherwise, I’m staying put… the question is, what are you going to do about it?”

What he does about it is get a gun.

Archie, pretending not to be scared, toughs it out in front of Peggy, telling her: “If you don’t want me, Phil might as well shoot me.”

Peggy begs Phil not to hurt her perhaps-not-so-estranged husband, but when Phil drops a bullet in Archie’s glass it doesn’t look as though he’s heeding his mum’s plea.

Hmm. Peggy’s sure changed her tune. Only three months ago she threw Phil out for failing to murder Archie.

Also, while we love having Archie back we wonder what his motivation is. Rumour has it, the Beeb can’t afford to keep him long so hopefully all will be revealed soon.

Find out when EastEnders is next on TV.