Nigel Bates returns to EastEnders for Christmas after 26-year hiatus
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EastEnders fans received a special surprise on Christmas Eve (24 December) when Nigel Bates made his comeback to the BBC soap after a 26-year absence.
Nigel, portrayed by Paul Bradley, made an appearance in the Christmas Eve episode set at a community center where Yolande Trueman, played by Angela Wynter, was lending her support as a volunteer.
Bradley, who was 69 at the time, exited the show in April 1998. He, along with Nigel and his adopted daughter Clare, departed from Albert Square to begin a fresh chapter in Scotland together with his partner Julie Haye and her son Josh.
During his time on the show, some of the most significant moments included his romance and marriage to Debbie Tyler, played by Nicola Duffett. Tragically, she passed away after being involved in a car accident. He also developed a close friendship with Dot Cotton, portrayed by June Brown, who took on a motherly role in his life.
In an interview with the BBC before his comeback, Bradley expressed his excitement and appreciation: “I’m really happy and feel privileged to return. Even though it’s been quite a while, people still recognize me as Nigel when I’m out and about.”
In the Christmas Day episode airing tonight, Nigel will come together again with Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden.
Nigel is making a comeback with a storyline that unfolds over time. Executive producer Chris Clenshaw hinted, "There's plenty of intrigue surrounding Nigel's circumstances and the reason he's alone here, which will come to light in the weeks ahead. Phil has never needed help as much as he does this Christmas, so we're thrilled to bring these two old friends back together."
When talking about rejoining McFadden, Bradley expressed, “I really respect his work and he holds everyone to a very high standard.”
Fans of EastEnders have taken to X to express their excitement over Nigel's comeback, with one user exclaiming, "Wow, Nigel Bates is back!!!!"
Another person commented, “Wow, Nigel Bates is sticking around for a while! I can’t wait!”
One person commented, "It was great to see Nigel return yesterday after such a long time. I really enjoy his character. I'm excited to hear he's going to have a significant role addressing Phil's loneliness. I suspected it might be connected to that."
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EastEnders will be on tonight at 7:30 PM on BBC One. You can find the complete Christmas lineup from the BBC here, along with our picks for shows you should definitely watch (and some you might want to skip) across various channels and streaming services here.
