Goodbye Albert Square, Hello Pemberley
By Hugh Montgomery
When people think of Mr Darcy, Jane Austen’s brooding hero from Pride and Prejudice, it’s unlikely that EastEnders’ Billy Mitchell springs to mind. Yet for James Bye, who has played Billy since 2014, an adaptation of Austen’s 1813 novel is a dream job come true.
“My wife’s been obsessed with Pride and Prejudice since Colin Firth in the ’90s — and she’s been trying to get me to watch it ever since,” he laughs. “So when I got the call, I knew she’d be delighted. It doesn’t come much more romantic than Darcy, does it? He’s a complicated man, a real gentleman, and stepping into those boots is just amazing.”
It’s something of a turnaround for Bye, who as Billy Mitchell has spent a decade playing a rather less suave character. “Billy’s been my life for so long, and I love him, but it’s no secret he’s not the most confident guy,” Bye admits. “So this is a real chance for me to step up and show another side.”
Bye’s debut in Pride and Prejudice is part of a stage adaptation that will be touring the UK this autumn. He plays Darcy opposite Rosie Day as Elizabeth Bennet, with the production promising to bring Austen’s world vividly to life. “It’s a show full of romance and wit,” says Bye. “There’s dancing, laughter, heartbreak — everything you’d want in a night at the theatre.”
