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EastEnders icon Nigel Bates made his return to the soap after 26 years - but fans were left gobsmacked as they said they didn't even recognise him and had to rewind the TV
EastEnders fans had to rub their eyes in disbelief as a soap icon made a dramatic comeback almost three decades after they left.
In the episode aired on Tuesday (December 24), the much-loved Walford local Yolande Trueman (played by Angela Wynter) popped into the community centre's soup kitchen. It was there she stumbled upon none other than Nigel Bates (portrayed by Paul Bradley).
Nigel, who first appeared on the soap in 1992, was adored for his loud shirts and distinctive curly hair, not to mention his unexpected bromance with Grant Mitchell (the legendary Ross Kemp).
He vanished from our screens in 1998, heading off to Scotland to start afresh with his wife Julie (Karen Henthorn). Yet, 26 years later, Nigel has resurfaced in Walford, seemingly having hit a rough patch.
At the soup kitchen, Yolande quizzed him about his return to which he simply responded: "Memories.", reports the Manchester Evening News.
Moreover, Nigel's reappearance caused quite the stir online, with loads of fans thrilled at his return though some did a double-take.
On an EastEnders Facebook fan group, one viewer exclaimed: "Wait was that Nigel Bates? " Another was just as flabbergasted, saying: "I had to press pause, I didn't even recognise him." A third added: "Can't believe he's back. Was shocked to see him but what a blast from the past." And yet another commented: "He looks so different."
During his stint on the soap, Nigel, a local video shop employee, formed a close bond with the neighbourhood's chief gossip, Dot Cotton (June Brown). She saw Nigel as the virtuous son she never had, leading to him being tormented by her nefarious offspring, Nick Cotton (John Altman).
Paul Bradley, 67, brought the character of Nigel to life in the BBC One soap from 1992 to 1998. Since departing EastEnders, he's graced our screens in numerous TV series such as Doctors, My Family, and Casualty. More recently, he played Elliot Hope in Holby City from 2005 to 2019 and took on the role of Golden Android in the dark comedy series I Hate Suzie.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
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