Inside EastEnders star Steve McFadden’s life worlds away from Phil Mitchell with 5 kids, famous ex and £2 selfie charge

EASTENDERS legend Steve McFadden is one of the soap's most recognisable characters.

The actor, 64, has played hard-man Phil Mitchell for more than three decades and even found himself at the centre of one of EastEnders' biggest ever storylines.

In 2001, Phil was shot outside his home after amassing a number of enemies in Albert Square and the nation was gripped by the 'Who Shot Phil?' plot.

A month later, the UK almost came to a standstill as his ex Lisa Shaw (played by Lucy Benjamin) was revealed as the person who'd pulled the trigger.

Bookmakers claimed more than 50,000 bets were placed on the suspects and the Liverpool and Barcelona UEFA Cup semi-final was even postponed for 15 minutes to accommodate a special 40 minute EastEnders episode.

Steve was already dating his co-star Lucy when the storyline aired and they continued as a couple until 2003.

But despite his very prominent appearance on BBC1, Steve leads a very private life away from the cameras.

Steve is a doting dad to five children, who he has welcomed over the years with four different women.

In 2016, the soap star was seen out and about in the sunshine with his youngest child.

He and his girlfriend Karen Cairns had only welcomed their daughter Frankie just days earlier and Steve was spotted pushing the then-newborn in a black pram.

A source at the time admitted Frankie's arrival had been a "surprise", but said: "Steve and Karen are both over the moon with little Frankie. Her pregnancy did come as a surprise, but now they are both happy.”

Phil has been married four times.

His eldest child is son Matt, 37, who he had with Sue Marshall.

Steve also has daughters Teona, 26, and Mollie Jane, 19, with Angela Bostock, and Amelie Tinkerbell, 14, with Rachel Sidwell.