In 2001, the BBC delayed a UEFA Cup semi-final by 15 minutes so viewers could find out who shot Phil Mitchell in EastEnders, according to a tweet from The Away Fans. The account, which celebrates football, recently shared the story, noting that nearly 20 million people watched the reveal before switching over to the Nou Camp.
The delay that halted football
The tweet read: 'In 2001, the BBC got Barcelona, Liverpool and UEFA to delay a UEFA Cup semi-final by 15 minutes so viewers could find out who shot Phil Mitchell in EastEnders. Nearly 20 million people watched the reveal before switching over to the Nou Camp. Peak British television.'
The incident took place during the UEFA Cup semi-final between Barcelona and Liverpool. The BBC's decision to hold the match allowed the soap's audience to see the resolution of the storyline, which had been building for weeks.
The storyline behind the shooting
In the soap, Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, was shot after returning home drunk from an engagement party. The shooting followed a confrontation with Ian about Phil's affair with Mel. When Phil answered the door, no one was there, and as he turned to go back inside, he was shot in the back and fell down the steps. Beppe di Marco found him and rushed him to hospital.
Five weeks later, in April 2001, Phil visited the suspects—Ian, Dan, Steve, Mark, and Lisa—who all received knocks on their doors at the same time. When Lisa answered, Phil pretended to befriend her before grabbing her by the neck, confirming he knew she had tried to kill him and intended to shoot her with the same gun she used.
The aftermath and revelation
Lisa claimed that Phil drove her to take action through his constant insults, violence, and cheating on her with her best friend. Phil then admitted that he did drive her to shoot him, and Lisa said she still loved him. The scene marked a turning point in the storyline, blending drama with an unexpected resolution.
