One of Newman's first key tasks as temporary executive producer was to oversee production of a special episode featuring a live segment in which the character of Billy Mitchell carries the Olympic Torch as an official torch bearer in the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay. Carl Doran, creative head of the BBC’s Torch coverage, revealed the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and EastEnders production team had worked for two years to organise this.The episode was part of the official torch relay, meaning the torch made a special detour from London to the EastEnders set in BBC Elstree, Borehamwood. Billy Mitchell was also involved in one of Newman’s most controversial storylines, in which his granddaughter Lola Pearce has her baby taken away by social worker Trish B