SHOCK RETURN!!! EastEnders confirms another return for Clare Bates in Nigel death story

As Madonna reigns as the Queen of the pop comeback, Gemma Bissix holds the crown in Soapland between her tenures as Clare Devine and Clare Bates, and she’ll be making another big return to EastEnders imminently when her alter-ego’s adoptive dad, Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) finally succumbs to dementia.

Gemma made a comeback to Walford earlier this year after an eighteen year absence to reunite with Nigel and his wife, Julie (Karen Henthorn), who she’d not been seen on screen with since 1998.

Ever since Nigel returned and revealed that he’d been diagnosed with the disease, fans had clamoured for Clare to make a reappearance and their wishes were granted when Julie finally summoned his estranged daughter to Albert Square as Nigel prepared to enter a care home.

‘It was a real pleasure to be asked to reprise the role of Clare for Nigel’s storyline,’ said Gemma at the time.

‘I was hoping to get the call as I think the fans wanted EastEnders to revisit their relationship. Nigel and Clare were a formidable pairing in the 90’s with a very unique stepfather/stepdaughter relationship!

‘It has been so great to reconnect with Paul and Karen after all these years, and it’s crazy how time felt like it had stopped when we did!

‘I grew up on the set of EastEnders and essentially learnt my craft there, so it’s been a real full circle moment! Whilst it will be an emotional reunion, I hope the viewers will be pleased to see Clare and Nigel on screen together once again!’

…and pleased they were!

In their initial stint in the show, Nigel adopted Clare after his wife, Clare’s mum Debbie (Nicola Duffett) was killed in a hit and run.

A vicious custody battle ensued between Nigel and Clare’s abusive biological dad, Liam Tyler (Francis Magee), which Nigel ultimately won.

Nigel later met Julie, who was Clare’s teacher and fell in love, just as Clare herself struck up a relationship with Julie’s son, Josh (Jon Lee), and the four departed Walford together for a new life.

Clare re-emerged upon being summoned by Julie and was utterly horrified at just how far Nigel’s condition had progressed, damaging their already fractured relationship. Nigel had taken to calling Lexi Pearce (Isabella Brown) Clare, no longer recognised his daughter.

Encouraged by Lexi, Clare took Nigel back to Albert Square for a proper goodbye drink in the Queen Vic, sparking panic for his carers, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Julie.

The residents of Walford gathered round, though Nigel struggled to keep up with the conversation. With Clare’s heart slowly breaking, Julie stepped in to remind Nigel of times he’d shared with his daughter.

Julie reminisced about how Nigel used to take Clare swimming and how, despite his fear of heights, he accompanied her up to the top diving board, prompting him to smile.

As the conversation progressed to the sugary doughnuts he’d treat them to after swimming, Nigel recalled that he used to let Clare win when it came to who could hold off on licking their lips first.

As he recalled the good old days, Nigel finally spoke directly to Clare. ‘Dad?’ she asked, tearfully, as Nigel broke into a big, loving smile. ‘Clare’, he responded.

Clare departed shortly after Nigel accidentally struck her while lashing out as he was brought into the care home, leaving her tearful and with a bloody lip.

With Nigel set to pass away next week, a soap insider told The Sun that EastEnders were eager for Gemma to return again: ‘It proved so popular that bosses are bringing her back again.’

‘Gemma’s return as Clare became an unexpected success. There’s always a danger that fans will have moved on, but her comeback proved a real high point for EastEnders followers.

‘It was only originally for a short stint but bosses couldn’t not bring her back again for Nigel’s funeral. There won’t be a dry eye in the house.’

Gemma recently reprised her role as the other Clare, the human-trafficking, murdering, gangster-adjacent devil-in-a-red-dress, Clare Devine in Hollyoaks for a short stint.

Her latest run saw her bust out of prison, murder her grandad, mob-styled Black family patriarch, Froggy (John Middleton), before taking another plunge into deep waters when Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) shoved her off a pier, eerily reminiscent of her first exit back in 2007.