Janet Mitchell
| Janet Mitchell | |||||||||||||||||
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| EastEnders character | |||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Grace | ||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2006–2012, 2014– | ||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | Episode 3216 5 September 2006 |
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| Introduced by |
Kate Harwood (2006) Diederick Santer (2010) Bryan Kirkwood (2011) Dominic Treadwell-Collins (2014) |
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| Spin-off appearances |
Billy's Olympic Nightmare (2012) | ||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Present; recurring | ||||||||||||||||
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| Family | Mitchell |
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| Father | Billy Mitchell |
| Mother | Honey Mitchell |
| Brothers | William Mitchell |
| Half-brothers | Dan Pearce Jay Brown (foster) |
| Grandfathers | Jack Edwards |
| Nieces | Lola Pearce |
| Other relatives | Phil Mitchell |
Janet Mitchell (briefly known as Petal) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by child actor Grace, who has Down's syndrome.
It was reported on 22 July 2006 that a character with Down's syndrome would be introduced to EastEnders. The newborn daughter of established characters Billy (Perry Fenwick) and Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton), the baby was to be named Janet. An EastEnders source said, "We will strive to handle this storyline sensitively" and Carol Boys, of the Down's Syndrome Association added, "We are delighted that EastEnders feature a baby with Down's syndrome. What a great way to get the message across that having a baby with Down's syndrome is not the end of the world."
Janet is born on 4 September 2006, the day of her parents' wedding. Billy and Honey had already agreed to name the baby Janet, after Honey's mother. Janet is diagnosed with Down's syndrome shortly after her birth. Honey has trouble coming to terms with Janet's condition, and when it is revealed that Janet needs a heart operation, Honey says it will be better for everyone if the baby dies. Honey then refuses to let the baby be named Janet, as she does not visualise "Janet"'s future that way. Billy has already started calling her "Petal" as a term of affection, so suggests that they name her that.
Petal is brought home from the hospital, and Honey finds it hard to cope, wanting to have her adopted. She considers smothering the baby with a pillow, but cannot do it. Honey runs away to her father, Jack's (Nicky Henson) canal boat in Kent. Billy tracks her down and takes "Petal" with him. He puts her by the canal, saying that people used to leave babies with Down's syndrome outdoors overnight, and if the baby survived, they'd keep it. Honey is shocked by Billy's actions and he picks her up and they go home. Despite her father's courage and love for her, her mother's fear of bringing up a child with Down's Syndrome wins out, and the pair put her up for adoption, giving her up to a foster family, Kim (Lorraine Arnold) and Tony Smith (Enzo Squillino Jr.), just prior to Christmas. However, when "Petal" is taken into hospital for major surgery, Billy goes to see her, and when Honey reads Billy's letter to an adult "Petal", she follows, walking in on her Christening, and announcing her name, Janet. Doctors say she will be fine after surgery. Janet moves away with Honey and William, after Billy's relationship with Honey did not work out. However, they still go to visit Billy every Saturday.
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