Fans of the BBC's flagship soap, EastEnders, were left stunned and delighted by the recent announcement that beloved character Barry Evans would be making a return to Albert Square after a 21-year absence. The bumbling character, played by actor Shaun Williamson, met a dramatic end in 2004 when he was pushed off a cliff by Janine Butcher.
A Deeply Personal Connection to the Plot
Now, Williamson has opened up about the profoundly personal reason he agreed to reprise his iconic role. The comeback forms part of a major storyline focusing on Nigel Bates, played by Paul Bradley, who is living with dementia. As Nigel's altered reality transports him back to the 1990s, he will encounter visions of both Barry and his iconic stepmother, Pat Evans (Pam St Clement).
In a candid interview, Shaun Williamson revealed that this narrative resonated deeply due to his own family experience. His mother passed away in 2022 after living with dementia. He described the Covid-19 pandemic as an especially difficult period for her, largely due to enforced isolation and a lack of social interaction. Following a stroke, his family sadly lost her.
"It felt incredibly personal for me," Williamson confessed. "That’s why I thought returning was such a great idea, and why the story hit me so deeply." The actor expressed a hope that the plot would help raise public awareness about the condition, citing predictions that dementia cases could double within the next 30 to 40 years.
Credibility Over a 'Dallas' Shower Scene
For over two decades, fans have persistently asked Williamson if Barry could ever return, despite his character's cremation being a established plot point. The actor always dismissed the idea as impossible and even ridiculous, joking that he wouldn't recreate a famous 'Dallas'-style return from the dead in a shower scene.
"EastEnders would lose about another million viewers if I did that!" he laughed. However, he believes the current storyline offers a credible and touching way to revisit the character. The return happens in the empty Queen Victoria pub, but in Nigel's mind, it is full of old friends with a karaoke night in full swing.
Williamson praised the writing and relished the chance to work with former co-stars again, calling the experience "magic." In a fittingly Barry-like moment, he admitted his first day back was slightly chaotic as he got lost trying to find the studio's new entrance.
A Legacy Character's Impactful Return
Barry Evans's original demise in 2004 was a landmark moment for EastEnders, solidifying Janine Butcher as one of Walford's most notorious villains. His unexpected return, albeit in the context of Nigel's dementia, provides a powerful blend of nostalgia and socially relevant storytelling.
Shaun Williamson's decision to return, driven by a desire to honour his mother's memory and spotlight a critical health issue, adds a layer of genuine poignancy to the fictional events on screen. This comeback demonstrates how soap operas can thoughtfully tackle real-world issues while delivering the dramatic twists their audiences love.
