Julie Bates has made a huge return to Albert Square after 27 years away.

The character briefly ‘returned’ in January as part of a voicemail message, though this is the first time she’s stepped back into her old haunt in almost three decades.

After being contacted by Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) – who had seen her social media campaign to bring Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) back to his home in Scotland – she arrived looking for answers.

Unfortunately, Julie got quite the shock when she came face to face with Nige’ after 18 months.

Who is Julie Bates in EastEnders?

Julie (maiden name Haye) is the estranged wife of Nigel. The pair met in 1997, two years after the death of his first spouse Debbie Tyler (Nicola Duffett).

She was first introduced to the show as Nigel’s adoptive daughter Clare’s (Gemma Bissix) teacher, explaining that the youngster was associating with a bang of bullies.

The pair ran into one another again at his video shop, and he later helped Julie put together a play based upon the history of Walford.

As they grew closer, it was revealed that Julie had a son – Josh (S Club’s Jon Lee) – who was dating Clare.

Nigel began to feel like he was betraying Debbie, though when Julie announced her intentions to move to Scotland for a new job, he seized the day and the group departed for pastures new.

Recently, after being dealt a young-onset dementia diagnosis, he fled their home, fearing that she would have to become his carer.

Who is actress Karen Henthorn and what other shows has she been in?

Lancastrian actress Karen first hit out screens in 1989, playing a casualty nurse in the CITV soap opera Children’s Ward.

A number of soap and drama roles have followed; playing three separate characters in The Bill, two in Holby City and Heartbeat, three in Casualty, and a whopping six different parts in Doctors.

She also played the regular cobbles resident Teresa Bryant in ITV’s Coronation Street between 2007 and 2010.