EastEnders viewers were left gobsmacked when after realised why they recognised the actress who plays Nigel Bates’ wife Julie..

Nigel (Paul Bradley) made his return to the BBC One soap last year over three decades since his debut. In a heartbreaking twist, it was revealed that Nigel was battling dementia and had suddenly left his wife Julie Haye (Karen Henthorn).

Nigel admitted that he didn’t want to become a burden to Julie due to his dementia, so he decided to vanish.

After making his way to Walford, pal Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) took Nigel under his wing by looking after him. Nigel repaid the favour too, when Phil was struggling with his mental health.

This week though, Nigel’s wife Julie made her comeback to Albert Square in a bid to find Nigel, thinking he had been missing since last year.

Arriving in Walford in Tuesday’s episode (July 15), Julie was shocked to find that Nigel didn’t recognise her, and that he has dementia.

Julie vowed to support Nigel though and told Phil she was taking him back to Scotland. Phil then attempted to halt the plans, but Nigel and Julie eventually left Walford, leaving Phil devastated.

However, fans watching at home have only just realised where they have seen the actress who plays Julie before.

As well as EastEnders, actress Karen Henthorn has appeared in the likes of BBC’s Doctors, Sky One comedy Trollied and prison drama Time.

She also played Teresa Bryant on ITV’s Coronation Street from 2007 to 2010. The nasty character caused plenty of drama on the cobbles, including poisoning her ex Jerry Morton (Michael Starke).

Reacting to Karen’s past soap role, one person wrote on Facebook: “Loved her in Corrie as Theresa and her scraps with Liz McDonald over Lloyd and Kelly Crabbtree when she got the mop on her in underworld.”

Someone else added: “Ahhh that’s where I seen her before as I couldn’t think which soap.” A third chimed in: “Oh yeah I totally forgot.” Echoing their thoughts, another person added: “She was great!”