EastEnders is set to reveal Nigel Bates’ (played by Paul Bradley) big secret following his surprise arrival in Walford. Over Christmas, Nigel returned to Albert Square for the first time in 26 years, and quickly reunited with his old friend Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden).
It was clear Nigel is going through a bad time as he appeared to be homeless and separated from him wife Julie. Phil urged Nigel to move in with him and in return Nigel is trying to support Phil through his period of loneliness.
But there is still mystery surrounding Nigel’s comeback after he initially said he had split from his wife but she has been contacting him to return home. Nigel was also left shocked when Phil decided to sign his share of the Boxing Den over to him – an offer he refused.
EastEnders legend Nigel Bates returned to Walford but what is he hiding? -Credit:BBC
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In upcoming scenes, Nigel considers leaving Walford, but he instead decides to pay a visit to the laundrette. Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) supports him, and he ends up revealing a big secret.
Phil becomes worried about his friend’s whereabouts, and he joins forces with Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) who helps him search for Nigel. As Nigel continues to open up to Yolande about why he has really returned to Walford, Phil arrives on the scene.
Next week, Yolande continues to provide Nigel with a shoulder to cry on and advises him to tell Phil what’s really going on with his health. But what exactly is Nigel hiding?
As Walford icon Nigel takes centre stage, let’s take a look inside the life of actor Paul Bradley.
Paul Bradley as Nigel Bates in EastEnders during the 1990s -Credit:BBC
Bradley, 69, is originally from Warwickshire and first appeared in EastEnders between 1992 and 1998. His iconic character was famed for being the kind hearted best pal of Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and running the local video store. He was also known for wearing flamboyant shirts teamed with his dark curly hair.
Local video shop worker Nigel also struck up a good relationship with local gossip-queen Dot Cotton (June Brown). She thought of Nigel as the good son she never had, which meant he was bullied by her own villainous child, Nick Cotton (John Altman).
Nigel tried to live in wedded bliss with his wife Debbie Bates (Nicola Duffett) and adopted her daughter Clare (Gemma Bissix) but their happy family life was never meant to be. Debbie was killed in a hit-and-run motor accident and Nigel became Clare’s soul parent.
In 1997, he fell in love with Julie (Karen Henthorn), a school teacher of Clare’s, and moved away from Albert Square to Scotland in 1998 and never returned – until now.
EastEnders icon Paul Bradley as Elliot Hope in Holby City
Since leaving the show actor Bradley went on to star in many other TV series including Doctors, My Family, I Hate Suzie, Bottom and Casualty, plus a minor role in the film The Pianist. His earliest role was in madcap sitcom The Young Ones in 1982.
Paul is also a star on stage and most recently starred in in the long running Agatha Christie play The Mousetrap as Major Metcalfe in London’s West End.
The soap star is also for his role as Elliot Hope in now axed BBC medical drama Holby City, a part he played for ten years between 2005 and 2015, then again in 2019 for the 20th anniversary celebrations.
EastEnders airs Monday – Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer