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Susan "Honey" Mitchell (née Edwards) is the daughter of Janet Bishop and Jack Edwards, wife of Billy Mitchell and mother of Will and Janet Mitchell. She made her first appearance on 22 November 2005 and is portrayed by Emma Barton.
Storylines[]
2005-2008: Arrival, marriage to Billy, having children and departure[]
Honey gives birth to a girl, Janet (named after Honey's mother), but her happiness is short-lived when she discovers that Janet has Down's syndrome. In May 2012, Honey and Lola Pearce throw a party for Billy's birthday, with Janet and William attending.
2014-2019: Reuniting with Billy and relationship with Adam[]
In May 2014, Honey brings the children to visit Billy and asks to meet up with him.
2020-2025: Eating disorder, relationship with Jay and remarrying Billy[]
In 2021, Honey grows closer to Suki Panesar, and the two attend the pride of Walford awards together. After the awards, Suki kisses Honey. After this, Suki fires Honey from the minute mart. In 2022, Honey gets the job as the market inspector after both Stacey Slater and Martin Fowler both give up the job. On 28 July 2022, Honey and Jay split up due to Honey realising that the two want different things, with Jay wanting to go out with his friends while Honey wants to focus on her job as market inspector. After this, Jay moves out for a while to give them time apart.
On 15 August 2022, Jay approaches Honey and asks if it’s okay for him to come over and collect his stuff. Honey says it’s okay anytime after four o’clock, as she’s expecting a “royal visitor” today, Mr Lister. Honey then asks Jay if Callum knows about his CD he needs to get to sleep, and Jay says it was one time after he had nightmares about getting shipwrecked. Jay then leaves, and Billy asks Honey why when they broke up why it wasn’t smiles and jokes like it is with Jay, but Honey asks which time he means, reminding billy they’ve broken up many times, saying that might explain the lack of smiles and jokes. When Honey turns around, she sees Ash and asks if everything is okay with her mum. Ash says she’s fine and asks why Honey’s asking, and Honey says it’s as she hasn’t opened the shop again. Honey says she would go check herself, but she’s busy with work. Honey then leaves. Later, Honey shows Mr Lister around the market, and he comments on the stall holders that are missing, with Honey saying she allowed them to go to Avery Baker’s funeral. Mr Lister remarks that Honey is rather empathetic. Ash then leaves the shop, and Honey says she’s glad to see Suki back on her feet. Ash says she’s getting there and asks Honey how single life is, and Honey says she’s hoping her and Jay stay friends. Ash reminds Honey that she’s her friend too, saying if she’s feeling down then she can call her. Mr Lister then asks Honey if she’s single, saying the love of her life could be around the corner.
On 16 August 2022, Honey visits Kim at the salon. Kim says she should get something that says she’s back on the market, but Honey rejects her and is backed up by Denise and Sonia. Kim says Honey shouldn’t take advice from Sonia as she’s been single for ages. Denise says she misses the feeling of being single and not having to please another soul. Sonia says she read an article about a woman who was sick of dating apps so she said yes to every invitation for a year to see what happens. Honey says she loves the idea, and Kim asks what happened to her, and Sonia says she’s still single, but the point is it broadened her horizons. Honey then decides to say yes to everything for the rest of the day, and Kim asks her if she wants a perm, so Honey has to say yes. Kim then shows Honey some options, and she chooses one. Later when walking through the market, Billy compliments her hair but Honey says it’s just something she’s trying out, but Billy says she should keep it. Billy then attempts to ask Honey to go for a drink, but loses the confidence and is seen by Eve, making her laugh. She then mocks Billy and says that cheese and onion aren’t very sexy. Eve then says Billy should just ask Honey on a date. Later in the cafe, Honey orders from Emin, and when he asks if she wants sugar, she says yes. After her break, Honey is approached by Billy, who attempts to ask her for a drink, but gets called away by a customer. Mr Lister then approaches Honey and asks her to go to lunch at the Vic with him, and she accepts. At the Vic, Mr Lister says that honey looks beautiful, and she thanks him. He then says they should drop the formality’s and start calling him Bob. Mr lister then says he’s sorry to hear about Honey’s split from Jay, saying that that’s the trouble of dating younger men. Honey jokes saying he must be talking from experience, and Mr Lister says obviously not, and that younger men just want to “sew their wild oats.” Honey then reveals that she was the one who dumped Jay, not the other way around. Mr Lister then continued to make jokes with Honey about someone in the market health and safety department, but Honey is not amused by them. Finlay Baker later saves her from the date by pretending that the two of them are together. Mr Lister then leaves and Honey and Finlay share a proper introduction, and Finlay offers a drink to Honey. Honey then feels embarrassed over deciding to say yes to everything. On 18 August 2022, Honey informs the boys that Mr Lister has refused them and that she’ll talk to him. The boys and Honey later convince him.
On 29 August 2022, Honey and Billy are convinced to have a private carnival party by Tom Cotton for Janet as she’s feeling overwhelmed by the Baker brothers party. During the party, Billy and Honey dance together after Honey declined Billy’s offer earlier. Honey admits she never thought they’d be friends like this again.
On 6 September 2022, Honey and Billy get closer after Freddie Slater steals a bap from the market. Billy asks Honey for a drink and she accepts. The two later go to the Vic, and Billy asks if Honey is excited for the wedding. Freddie then comes over to them. Billy tells Freddie to sit down while he calls the police, and Freddie does so, saying he got Billy a beer. Billy declines it, and Freddie reveals that he’s Billy’s son. Honey later storms off from Billy after he tells Freddie he is his biological dad, despite not being it. At home, Honey tears into Billy for giving Freddie false hope, saying that Little Mo Mitchell shouldn’t be dumping Freddie on them as she can’t tell him the truth, saying she doesn’t want Will and Janet thinking they have a new sibling. Honey then says she’ll phone Little Mo and leave her a message, saying that just because Billy and her aren’t together doesn’t mean they aren’t a team. Later, Honey is angered at Phil and Billy when Phil says he has to leave the country. Billy later apologised to Honey for leaving, saying he still loves her and always will, saying he’s sorry for not being good enough for her. Billy reveals to Honey that he’s leaving as the police are going to arrest him because of Samantha Keeble’s vendetta against Phil, saying he wishes he could stay, but he can’t as he’s a coward scared of being locked up again. Billy swears on the kids lives he didn’t do it before leaving. Later, Honey, Will and Janet watch as the police take Billy away. Honey later goes to see Phil. Honey is angry at Phil as her kids has seen Billy be arrested. Phil says Ritchie Scott is on Billy’s case, but Honey says it isn’t good enough and rips into Phil, saying it isn’t right he’s been used by the Mitchell’s. Honey says Phil is ripping her family apart and that all Billy has ever done is show Phil loyalty. Phil then storms off after Kat returns home to hear him threatening her kids. Honey and Kat then vent to each other about their troubles with Mitchell men. Kat pours them both a drink, with Honey saying the Mitchell men of that generation are the way they are because of their childhood, and that Phil is just a little boy who was told he was never allowed to cry inside. Later, Billy comes home and tells Honey that Ritchie got him out, but she won’t be representing him. Billy says he understands she won’t want him in the house now he’s been charged with murder, and Honey reveals she still cares about Billy, and the two share a kiss and get back together.
On 27 September 2022, Honey takes Will and Janet to see Freddie in the chippy when him and Bobby are hosting a deep fry day where you can bring anything to be deep fried. Janet brings a pick and mix and Will a tuna melt. Let in the Vic, Freddie tells her and Billy about his day, and when Freddie goes to the toilet, Honey tells Billy he needs to tell Freddie he isn’t his dad.
The following day, Honey joins Billy in the cafe to talk to his lawyer, however when he isn’t helpful, Honey says he should pay for a solicitor, and forget legal aid, saying Billy didn’t murder anyone. His lawyer says he should plead guilty and take the fourteen years as it’s generous, but Billy is outraged by this and the lawyer leaves, and Freddie comes over. Freddie asks what’s up, and Billy says it isn’t good, and Honey says that even though Phil’s layer, Ritchie Scott, can’t help, she has to have other people to help. Honey calls over to Ben, asking if Phil has lawyers, and Ben says they use Ritchie for legit cases, but there are other people at her firm. Billy says it will cost them a lot, and Freddie says he’s still getting them some money, and Billy says he appreciates it, but Freddie will never be able to get the money needed and that he’s going to go down for something he didn’t do and that they need to get their heads around it, and he then leaves. Freddie and Honey later mock Phil together in the pub.
On the day of Billy’s hearing, Honey talks to Phil, telling him Billy is terrified. Honey later talks with Billy in the cafe where he tells her that if he goes to prison he doesn’t want her to bring the kids to visit him. He says he’s not worried about himself but needs Honey to promise she won’t bring them however much they ask, and she promises, but says it won’t come to that as he is innocent. After this, Will walks in, saying he wants to be with his dad, and the three share some food in the cafe. The next day, Honey and Freddie go the Vic with Billy, where Ritchie reveals Jimmie can’t represent him anymore. The three then sit down, and Billy says he’s got no chance now before stepping outside. Freddie tells Honey he hates Phil, as first he said Billy was Freddie’s real dad and now this, and says the only good thing about not being a Mitchell is not being related to him, and Honey says Phil always treated Billy like his dog. Ben then comes in, and Freddie asks him to talk to his dad, and Ben says no. On 5 October 2022, Honey attend Jay’s party at Peggy’s hosted by Lola. A break in later happens, and Honey is unharmed, although he’s shaken up and brought back to when the Vic was attacked when she gave birth to William.
The family are later distraught to discover that Lola has a brain tumour, which will most likely be terminal. Honey supports Billy and offers her love and support to Lola. As she attends numerous chemotherapy treatments and other scans, things get worse. On the plus side, Lola and Jay get married which is something which Honey is happy to see. As time progresses, Lola’s health deteriorates and the family begin to make plans on what to do once she passes, they make arrangements for Lexi’s care. Eventually, Lola is at a point where she goes into hospital for the final time and is taken home with days left. Honey is saddened and makes alternative arrangements for Will and Janet as they sit their GCSE’s.
When Billy is drunk and emotional, after Lola is about to die, he gets into a fight with Nish Panesar and smashes up the Minute Mart, punching Jack too. Honey tries to stop him but there is no hope, and he is arrested. Honey and Phil then plead with Nish to get Billy released and his granddaughter is dying. Nish doesn’t budge so Honey angrily chucks tea over him. After persuading and blackmailing Suki, Billy is successfully released - he and Honey say their goodbyes to Lola and she sadly dies.
In the following months, grief is hard for the family and they all struggle, Billy in particular, Honey is around to support him but things do get stressful. Towards the end of 2023, they watch a Christmas Video which Lola pre-recorded and she reveals, on the video, that she has signed Jay and Honey up for the London Marathon 2024.
As 2024 progresses, Honey and Jay bond and prepare to run the marathon, doing excessive training and practice jogs with Peter. Honey is faced with a challenge when Will gets a vape from Avani Nandra-Hart and Honey confronts Priya Nandra-Hart over this behaviour, Priya then chucks a drink over Honey - this is the start of Will’s behaviour degrading.
Honey and Jay later run the marathon for real and complete it. At the finish line, Honey proposes to Billy and he accepts, and the family are locals are delighted - especially after completing the run in aid of Lola. However, a few weeks later, Billy’s estranged father, Stevie Mitchell arrives in Walford which causes some revelations for the family. Honey gets on well with Stevie and feels sorry for him being alone, but Billy has a strong disregard for his father and banishes him. Despite this, Stevie keeps coming back and tries to bond with Will and Janet, discreetly and openly.
Billy and Stevie continue to clash, but after some time, they make up and Honey is glad for Billy and enjoys having a happy family. Not too long after, Will gets catfished by someone at school and goes to Stevie for help - when it goes wrong, Will lashes out and attacks Stevie, hospitalising him. This then causes Honey and Billy to discover the catfishing incident, Honey supports Will and reassures him that he can always come to her for support, rather than Stevie. Honey also meets, Teddy, Harry and Barney Mitchell, new members of the Mitchell Clan, hidden away from Billy. After a series of dramatic events, she goes to visit her Aunt Caroline for a break. Once she returns, Honey wrongly arranges a 40th birthday party for Martin, despite him being 39.
Employment history[]
| Occupation | Years active |
|---|---|
| Bartender at The Queen Victoria | 2006-2007 |
| Employee at Booty | 2007 |
| Assistant employee at Minute Mart | 2016-2021 |
| Market Inspector at Bridge Street Market | 2022 to present |
Fight count[]
Slaps[]
Total: 2
Individual characters slapped: 2
Total slaps: 3