Introduced as a guest character, Mickey proved popular and was turned into a regular by executive producer Louise Berridge.

It was announced on 25 February 2008 that the characters of Mickey and his stepfather Keith had been axed by EastEnders' executive producer Diederick Santer.

In July 2011, it was announced Swash would reprise his role for the departure storyline of his screen brother Darren and appeared for two episodes on 19 and 20 September 2011.

"[1] In April 2004, the casting team held workshops, screen tests and script readings with the potential actors for Mickey's family.

[4] Other family members included stepfather Keith (David Spinx), mother Rosie (Gerry Cowper) and half brother Darren (Charlie G. Hawkins).

The family's introduction in September 2004 followed a survey in The Mirror newspaper which suggested that 57% of EastEnders viewers thought the soap had lost its appeal.

[5] Joe Swash has revealed that giving Mickey a family was not the producers' original plan for the character, but he was pleased when he was told of the development one year prior to their introduction: "Before, I was in and out all the time.

[7] In the storyline, Mickey went to France with some of his friends to visit his sister, and was surprised to see his estranged father, who had abandoned him as a child.

In 2004, the duo were featured in a special plot to highlight the BBC's fundraising event Sport Relief, which tackles poverty and disadvantage, both in the UK and internationally.

Kareena had taken a hiatus from the serial and returned two months later with what was billed as a "sexy new vamp look" — part of the producers attempt to popularise the much-criticised Ferreira family.

Swash had been forced to take a three-month break from the serial after he contracted meningoencephalitis — a rare form of viral meningitis, which makes the brain swell up.

[16] After being involved in a high-profile storyline that saw the Millers' home burned down in a gas explosion in June 2008, Mickey departed the serial two weeks later, joining his mother and sister for a new start.

[20] He returned, with no prior announcement, in the episode broadcast on 9 December 2024, as part of a comedic storyline surrounding Bridge Street Market.

[23] Mickey is first seen in Walford in 2003, selling dodgy goods to Spencer Moon (Christopher Parker) and he is later involved in similar money-making scams with fellow wheeler-dealer Mo Harris (Laila Morse).

To earn extra money, he works as a builder and sells trinkets on Bridge Street market, aided by his business partner, Juley Smith (Joseph Kpobie).

They eventually call an uneasy truce, but Mike alienates his son further when he tries to con his friend Minty Peterson (Cliff Parisi) out of his life savings.

Mickey enters into a relationship with Li Chong (Elaine Tan) in 2007, and they eventually both move into Gus Smith's (Mohammed George) flat.

Li often tests the relationship, infuriating Mickey by growing cannabis in their closet, and then involving him in a money-making scam by advertising him as a male escort without his consent.

With persuasion, Mickey agrees to do the male escorting, but Li proves too jealous of his flirtations with other women, so their scam soon ends.

Mickey is too scared to take any action against Sean, and relies on his sister's boyfriend, Jase Dyer (Stephen Lord), for protection.

On 18 June 2008 he is knocked out when Dr. May Wright (Amanda Drew) hits him over the head with a crowbar, whilst trying to steal Dawn's baby, Summer.

He attends the stag night and flirts with Jodie's friend Poppy Meadow (Rachel Bright) and accidentally reveals to her that Darren has had sex with bridesmaid Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa).

Mickey then reminisces with Mo, telling her the real reason for coming back to Walford was to thank her for taking him under her wing when he was a teen with no prospects.

[24] During a period of heavy media criticism aimed at EastEnders in 2004, Shelley stated that the serial's "Tiresome obsession with petty crime" was one of the reasons for its decline in quality, with Mickey listed as one of the soap's "myriad criminals.

[22] She continued by considering scenes between Mickey and Mo to be "heartwarming" and concluded: "While this marked the end of Joe Swash's delightful comeback, we'd certainly love to see him return in the future.