Clare Bates Stages Emotional EastEnders Comeback After 18 Years
Clare Bates, portrayed by actress Gemma Bissix, makes her long-awaited return to EastEnders next week after an absence of eighteen years. The classic character will be reunited with her stepfather Nigel Bates, played by Paul Bradley, in what promises to be some of the most emotionally charged episodes in the soap's history.
Nigel's Dementia Battle Sparks Family Reunion
Fans of the BBC soap opera have been campaigning for months for Clare's return as Nigel Bates battles early-onset dementia. Throughout his storyline, Nigel has frequently spoken with affection about his estranged stepdaughter, creating anticipation among viewers. While Clare last appeared on Albert Square in 2008, it has actually been twenty-seven years since she shared screen time with Nigel, with their once-close father-daughter relationship having deteriorated over the intervening decades.
Clare remains completely unaware of Nigel's dementia diagnosis until next week's episodes, when his wife Julie Bates, portrayed by Karen Henthorn, finally reaches out to her. The timing coincides with Nigel's hospitalization following a near-drowning incident in his bath at home, adding urgency to the family drama.
Family Tensions and Unexpected Alliances
With a place becoming available at a local care home for Nigel, tensions escalate between Julie and Nigel's best friend Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden. Nigel repeatedly asks to see Clare, but Julie initially resists Phil's suggestion to contact her. The situation takes a turn when Lexi Pearce, a character Nigel often confuses with a young Clare, intervenes and provides Julie with a new perspective that changes her mind.
When Clare finally arrives back in Walford, she is profoundly shaken by Nigel's fragile condition and the reality that he no longer recognizes her. Actress Gemma Bissix describes Clare's emotional state as feeling 'rejection in every sense of the word', comparing the experience to losing her mother and Nigel's first wife Debbie Bates all over again.
Complex Family Dynamics Explored
'I think she probably naively thought that Nigel would be around forever, which is why I suppose she took for granted that she didn't have to see him,' Bissix explains about her character's mindset. The reunion also reignites long-standing tensions between Clare and Julie, with years of unresolved history coming to a dramatic head.
Bissix reveals that Clare perceives Julie's delayed contact as a form of punishment, saying 'Clare feels like Julie has done it to get back at her; she feels like Julie has only called her at this late stage as a punishment.' She adds, 'In Clare's mind, it does feel quite cruel because I think Clare really wanted the chance to apologise to her dad.'
Character Development and Emotional Depth
The actress reflects on Clare's previous portrayal as 'a bit of a maneater, and a bit more of a con artist,' suggesting these behaviors stemmed from inner trauma and lack of parental guidance after her mother's death. 'All Clare wants is the love of her dad, and she can see that she might not have that again, and she's missed her opportunity, so it's really heartbreaking for her,' Bissix explains.
Clare finds an unexpected ally in Lexi Pearce, who helps her discharge Nigel from hospital. The young girl encourages Clare to take Nigel for one final drink at The Queen Victoria pub before his move to the care home, creating poignant moments between the characters.
Poignant Connections and Healing Moments
Bissix teases the emotional depth of these scenes, noting 'Clare realises that they were the same age when they both lost their mum, and I think there's a really poignant connection between them both.' She continues, 'Lexi makes her feel understood, and in a time and a place where she feels so alienated by Julie, and so detached from Nigel, she's able to find comfort in this young girl who reminds her of herself.'
The actress adds that Clare finds healing in witnessing Nigel's affection for Lexi, particularly when he mistakes the young girl for Clare. 'It gives her comfort as it reminds her how much Nigel did love Clare when they were young,' Bissix explains.
Family Unity and Moving Forward
Later episodes see Julie and Clare attempting to set aside their differences as they, along with Phil Mitchell, take Nigel to the care home. The enormity of the situation takes a heavy emotional toll on all three characters, leaving viewers wondering whether they can find a way forward together.
A Full Circle Moment for the Actress
For Gemma Bissix, returning to EastEnders for this guest stint represents a 'full circle moment' in her career. Filmed during a break from her role as murderous Clare Devine on Hollyoaks, the experience allowed her to reconnect with former colleagues after more than two decades.
'I was just so chuffed because I haven't seen Paul Bradley in over 20 years and so to be able to reconnect with him and work with him again felt like time had stood still,' she shares. 'Paul is exactly the same lovely person he was before. He was sort of like a stepfather to me in real life at work, and Karen and I were close as well. They make me feel like I'm a child again, in the best possible way.'
Bissix also enjoyed reuniting with Steve McFadden and reflected on her connection to the late Barbara Windsor, who played Peggy Mitchell. 'I was also really close to Barbara Windsor when I worked there before, and she got me my agent when I left, and I'm still with that agency to this day, so there's such a legacy for me there.'
These emotional EastEnders episodes air from Monday 2nd March at 7:30pm on BBC One, with streaming available from 6am on iPlayer.
