NIGEL Bates has revealed the heartbreaking truth about his dementia battle in EastEnders – as the soap teased another big comeback.
Viewers were delighted to see Nigel – played by Paul Bradley – return to Albert Square on Christmas Eve 2024 – after 26 years away.
In recent scenes, it was revealed that Nigel had been diagnosed with dementia.
Sat with Yolande (Angela Wynter) in the launderette, he opened up about his situation.
Nigel previously said his wife Julie (Karen Henthorn) left him for another man.
After hearing about diagnosis, Yolande assumed Julie left Nigel for selfish reasons and questioned how someone could do such a thing.
It turned out Julie didn’t know about her husband’s condition to begin with.
Nigel explained: “When I got the diagnosis, I went home, packed a bag and walked out.
“No note, no goodbyes, just vanished.”
He continued: “The doctor didn’t know how quickly my symptoms would develop.
“I had to act while I still could – while I still had a choice.”
Yolande asked Nigel if that meant he’d been unhappy in his marriage – but he firmly denied this.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”EastEnders’ Nigel Bates makes heartbreaking confession about his health to Yolande Trueman ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6366818369112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Nigel said: “My illness, I’ve got the easy part. I won’t know the end’s coming but Julie…
“If I’d stayed, she’d have had to watch me shrinking away.
“Sometimes, me not even remembering who she is. I couldn’t do that to her.”
Later on, the pair had another heart-to-heart in Dot Cotton’s (June Brown) old kitchen.
As he sat there, Nigel recalled happy memories with “Mrs C”, while Yolande offered her new friend some comfort through prayer.
Earlier this week, EastEnders aired a surprise voice cameo for Julie, who was last physically seen in 1998.
She begged: “Nigel, it’s Julie again. I don’t know if you got my last message or…
“Listen, Nigel, I promise I’m not cross, whatever reason you walked out and disappeared, I just really need to know if you’re alright mate.
“I miss you. I love you, Nigel.”
Could viewers soon be seeing Julie back on the Square?
EastEnders airs on BBC One and iPlayer.
