NOT ENDER THE ROAD EastEnders icon makes emotional return in ‘heartbreaking’ storyline as insider says there ‘won’t be a dry eye in house’
GEMMA BISSIX is returning to Albert Square as Clare Bates for the funeral of her stepdad Nigel, I can reveal.
She delighted EastEnders devotees when the character made a one-off return after 18 years away from Walford.
Clare came back earlier this year when Nigel, played by Paul Bradley, was being moved into a care home as his dementia deteriorated.
She was seen making peace with her stepdad and his wife Julie, after years of bitter estrangement.
Clare also reconnected with Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, and there was even an emotional reunion with her old pal Chelsea Fox.
A TV insider said: “It proved so popular that bosses are bringing her back again.
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“It will be in heartbreaking circumstances as Nigel is set to die next week in emotional scenes.
“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’s return comes weeks after her Hollyoaks character — the villainous Clare Devine — was sensationally killed off.
She was thrown off a cliff after escaping from prison, killing her grandfather and kidnapping her adopted daughter in an attempt to flee the country.
But as no body was found and Devine has already returned from the dead once, it’s likely she survived for a future return . . .
Hit squad first for channel
COP a load of these scenes from upcoming crime drama Hit Point.
This is a first glimpse of the U&Dave thriller featuring Nick Blood and Saffron Hocking as London detectives who delve deep into the city’s underworld.
The summer six-parter is the channel’s first foray into scripted drama.
The lines between the private and working lives of the lead characters, Leo and Bella, blur as they team up against the criminals.
Hit Point also stars William Abadie, better known as Antoine Lambert from Emily In Paris, as well as Downton Abbey’s Brendan Coyle and The Gentlemen’s Peter Serafinowicz.
DELVE deeper into raunchy Rutshire with the return of the Rivals podcast.
Series two of the Disney+ series begins on May 15.
Pandora Sykes will host the visual podcast, with cast, creators and celebrity fans of the series giving exclusive access to goings-on the behind the scenes.
Keeley has vow factor
KEELEY HAWES gets into the habit as she delivers a heart-wrenching performance as a nun torn between love and the Church.
The Bodyguard and Line Of Duty actress plays Anna, who is struggling with her unexpected feelings for Catholic priest David, played by Paapa Essiedu.
She is seen here in a first-look trailer for Falling, from Adolescence creator Jack Thorne.
And judging by the powerful teaser, fans can expect tears and laughter from the Channel 4 romantic drama when it drops later this year.
Suranne a little miffed
ONE lead role that “got away” still plays on the mind of Suranne Jones.
The Doctor Foster actress, fresh out of Coronation Street, wanted to be involved in the 2008 BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Little Dorrit, and auditioned.
She said: “I found they’d already cast it and they were a little bit rude to me. I always felt like I needed to do a period drama.”
Claire Foy ended up as Amy Dorrit.
Looking back at her career with former Corrie co-star and best friend Sally Lindsay, on podcast A Night In with Sally Lindsay, Suranne added:
“Our Fridays were always mad. I remember us on the back of a milk float to get some fags.
“It was about four or five in the morning.”
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