DEEP SADNESS! EastEnders lines up another emotional return for Clare Bates in death storyline
EastEnders Soap Scoop! Nigel passes away
EastEnders is set to air another return for Clare Bates as she returns to Walford under sad circumstances in an upcoming episode. After her stint as villainous Clare Devine on Hollyoaks came to an end with an explosive death storyline, soap star Gemma Bissix is now reprising the role of Clare on EastEnders.
Clare previously returned to the Square earlier this year when her stepdad Nigel was moved into a care home after his dementia took a turn. During their reunion, Clare patched things up with Nigel and his wife Julie after years of being estranged. She’s now expected to come back for his funeral.
In scenes airing next week, The Sun reports Clare will be among those paying their respects to Nigel as she also reconnects with Phil Mitchell and Chelsea Fox.
Prior to his passing, Nigel’s bad case of pneumonia calls for another character return as Grant Mitchell, played by Ross Kemp, is summoned back to Walford by his son Mark. Mark enlists his dad’s help to convince Phil to say his goodbyes to his best friend before it’s too late.
“Phil can’t imagine his life without Nigel,” explains our EastEnders insider. “Their bond brought Phil back from the brink. Nigel also relied on Phil’s love and support, but now Phil is refusing to visit his best mate and deal with the reality of his death.”
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Struggling to accept that Nigel might not have long left, Phil refuses to go visit him at the care home.
Grant speeds back into town to encourage his brother to put his fears aside now rather than facing regret afterwards, but he’s taken back when, upon visiting Nigel, he realises just how unwell their friend is.
In a dramatic development, Phil goes missing just as Julie rings Grant with an update. She informs him that Nigel is dying and the devastating news prompts Grant to look for Phil and make him see sense.
After finding his brother reminiscing on a beach, Grant urges him to go and see Nigel before it’s too late.
A heart-to-heart makes Phil realise he needs to be there for Nigel’s last moments as he and Grant make it back to Walford just in time to see their pal peacefully slip away.