i dont like this. phil is acting like he doesnt give a damn about shirley. he's celebrating ben getting his charges dropped. he's supposed to care about her????? yeah right.

I fully understand WHY Phil is doing it. I just don't agree it is the right course of action. Phil, Grant and Sam were all raised by Peggy with her mantra that it is "All about the Faaaamily". Plus, Ben is the only child Phil gets to see since he lost Louise. Phil is just doing what he has been raised to do.... keep the family together. In his mind, he probably thinks it will all blow over soon and he can get back with Shirley, but thinking has never been his strong point. He does care about Shirley, but sadly he cares about the family more.

I mean the celebrating bens fredome. He should be lucky ben hasnt been put back in prison already

i hope nothing happens to Phil cause the only reason i watch Eastenders is cause of Phil and Grant and Phil is the only 1 left and i hope there not planing on replacing Phil with stupid derek branning he look's like a pig look at his face and ears for god sake and when is grant coming back for a visit

Yeah, that is true - what should be right for Phil is "Ben killed someone, and on top of that, this someone was Shirley's best friend, he has to pay for this", but what he thinks is right is "Ben is my son, and I will protect him no matter what", plus the sense of guilt as well, Phil know he has been a rubbish father to Ben.