EastEnders fans call for Steve McFadden to win an award for playing Peggy Mitchell’s devastated son Phil

Heartbreak was plastered all over the face of Phil Mitchell as actor Steve McFadden dug deep and threw himself into tear-jerking scenes for the death of his on-screen mum Peggy Mitchell.

After tuning into the emotion-charged episodes since January - when Peggy (Dame Barbara Windsor) revealed her cancer was terminal - EastEnders fans have now spoken out to demand the man behind skinhead boozer Phil scoops a top award.

Viewers took to Twitter to reveal just how impressed they were by Steve's delicate and touching scenes after Phil discovered the Mitchell matriarch's dead body on yesterday show's.

This followed a teary Tuesday night for many as they saw Peggy take her own life and prompted many to rack their brains as to why the Londoner has failed to bag any gongs in the past.

Steve has been a familiar face on Albert Square since 1990.

One wrote on the social media site calling for the actor to be given the highest accolade possible and posted: "Just caught up on Eastenders tonight. If Steve McFadden doesn't win some kind of award it will be a disgrace. Someone give the man an Oscar!"

Many shared her views and one said: "Steve McFadden so desperately deserves an award for his outstanding performance over the past few months!!!" while another added: "And again! Steve Mcfadden delivers an award winning performance. About time he got the gongs he's deserved for years."

One telly fan called for Steve to be given "every award going" as the swanky British Soap Awards approaches on May 28.

Meanwhile another rounded off with the message: "In all seriousness @bbceastenders that was so beautifully done, and if Steve McFadden doesn't get an award for this last year, suminks up.."

Steve, 57, has flourished in a variety of storylines of late which have seen him battle alcoholism as well as the revelation his son is gay.

Yet his skills as balancing Phil's hardman persona with that of a sensitive, loving son have come to the fore in recent programmes.

Last week, he showed just that as Phil and Peggy hopped on board a boat for a trip down the River Thames.

Scenes from Friday night's episode showed Phil take his battleaxe mum on her east London trip down memory lane before viewers were left scrabbling for their tissues as they watched them cuddled up on deck.

The pair are seen having quality mother and son time as Phil struggles to accept his mother’s terminal cancer diagnosis and attempts to show her all that she has to live for.

After their trip down memory lane, Peggy said: "You are always there for me no matter what.

"You're the only person in my life who has never let me down."

The emotional rollercoaster reached its peak on Tuesday when Peggy decided to take her own life.

Last night, EastEnders fans commented on yet another stonking performance from Phil in an episode which showed him break down as he discovered Peggy's body.

Yet it isn't just fans of the soap who have given a public thumbs-up to Steve's acting.

His co-star Tameka Empson, who plays Kim Fox, praised him for being a fantastic on-screen drunk.

In a chat with Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw he said: "Phil actually looks like a real drunk person! He's amazing at it," to which she replied: "I know! He's too good at it. I'm telling you, leave it alone (Phil) and also, he's dying as well. And I loved how he tried to get a bit serious. (The acting) has been very strong."