Bookmakers last night invited bets on the biggest TV soap whodunnit since Dallas's JR Ewing was gunned down - who shot Phil Mitchell?

The EastEnders hardman, played by Steve McFadden, will get blasted by a mystery attacker in a March episode of the BBC1 soap.

The identity of the gunman, or woman, is a closely-guarded secret. Only a few TV executives know the answer.

Now William Hill has opened a book on who it will turn out to be, with shady Steve Owen, who has already killed his former girlfriend Saskia in the soap, the 11/4 favourite.

Steve has already come to blows with Phil over a deal to buy a share of a nightclub.

Second up is Dan Sullivan, on 9/2, who tricked Phil into signing away his half-share in the Queen Vic.

Phil's girlfriend Lisa, who has put up with his flirty behaviour for months, is also on 9/2, followed by 11/2 for barmaid Melanie, played by Tamzin Outhwaite, who had a fling with Phil but is now due to get married to Steve.

William Hill is also offering bets on Ashely at 11/2; Laura at 13/2; Ian Beale at 10/1; Billy at 16/1; and Grant Mitchell, Mark Fowler, Michelle Fowler, Nick Cotton and Jamie at 20/1.

There are also odds of 33/1 that it will turn out to be suicide, and 100/1 that the gunman will turn out to be EastEnders baddie Dirty Den.

William Hill will be taking bets on the EastEnders mystery over the internet at www.williamhill.co.uk and will pay out on whoever is convicted for the shooting.

The bookmaker was the first to take bets on a TV programme when it opened a book on who shot JR Ewing, played by Larry Hagman, in Dallas in 1980.

A spokesman said: "We took a quarter of a million pounds on Who Shot JR? We'll be delighted if this proves as popular."