Before his character got entangled in the gritty drama of Albert Square, EastEnders actor Elijah Holloway had already stepped into the spotlight. However, few fans would recognize him from his earlier appearance. The now-familiar face of Harry Mitchell had once looked very different on a forgotten BBC talent show long before he joined the legendary Mitchell clan.
And now, as the drama over Harry‘s enigmatic ex-girlfriend reaches fever pitch on the soap, fans have been treated to a much–anticipated secret that connects with one of the Square‘s darkest secrets so far.
Elijah Holloway’s Secret Brush With Fame on ‘Let It Shine’
Years before Elijah Holloway caused a splash playing Harry Mitchell on EastEnders; he had attempted his fortune on the BBC‘s 2017 search for talent Let It Shine. Just 18 at the time, Elijah auditioned for the program to secure a place in a touring musical based on the music of Take That.
Elijah, a professional luxury perfume salesman, won over the judges with his charm and confidence. At his audition, he sold the judges Gary Barlow, Dannii Minogue, Martin Kemp, and Amber Riley a selection of fragrances using the presentation skills he acquired as part of his day job.
He then emerged on stage in full performer attire, performing a lively version of Greased Lightning that captured the spirit of John Travolta’s legendary role in Grease. For all his effort and panache, Elijah failed to make it into the final cast of performers for the musical.
While the stage production did not succeed, Elijah secured a key soap role. A role that would see him embroiled in scandal, secrets, and emotional bombshells on EastEnders. This week, his character Harry was propelled into the middle of a huge reveal.
EastEnders: Harry’s Ex Shireen – Mystery Solved in a Chilling Twist
Since coming to Walford, Elijah’s character has been settling into life in the Mitchell household. But his past recently caught up with him when viewers started speculating what had happened to his former girlfriend, Shireen. That mystery had run on for years and was finally solved in a dramatic sequence in a recent episode.
Teddy was adamant that he would track down Shireen and clear his and Harry‘s names. Meanwhile, Nicola was spotted meeting with a mysterious character in a parked vehicle. She mentioned a task he had undertaken for her some years ago. She implied someone had begun to speak, and the story was coming apart.
When the man, Benji, pretended not to know, Nicola gave him a bundle of money. That reminded him. He said to her, “Paradise Park. Industrial estate on the outskirts of Dartford. It‘s been abandoned for years. Don‘t worry, no one will uncover your little secret.” Nicola spoke icily, threatening him: “I hope so, for both our sakes. I‘m only now putting my family in order. They must never find out that I murdered that girl, or I will lose them forever.”
The harrowing admission proved that Nicola had killed Shireen, placing her among Walford’s most deadly residents. Now that this secret is finally out, questions are circulating about what Nicola will do next and how the Mitchells will react if they find out. Is there another twist on the horizon – or will Nicola strike again to bury her secret forever? Only time will tell in the Square. For more such updates on EastEnders, keep following Soap Opera Daily!
