In a poignant end to a quarter-century on screen, actor Nicholas Bailey has officially departed the BBC's EastEnders, bringing the turbulent story of Dr Anthony Trueman to a dramatic and fatal conclusion. The character, who first arrived in Walford in the year 2000, met his end in a Christmas storyline that unveiled long-buried secrets and a vengeful daughter.
A Dramatic Christmas Exit
Anthony Trueman's return to Albert Square after a 20-year absence was short-lived and fraught with danger. Drawn back into the life of his former flame, Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), Anthony used his medical expertise to investigate the fate of Zoe's newborn twins, whom she believed had been stillborn. His investigation led to the earth-shattering discovery that he was, in fact, the father, and that the daughter had been resuscitated.
Determined to find his children and keep them from Zoe, Anthony falsely told her mother, Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace), that both babies had died. This lie, exposed in a heated Christmas Day confrontation, turned his own father, Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker), against him. A final, violent showdown with Zoe in The Vic left both with serious head injuries. While Zoe eventually regained consciousness, Anthony Trueman did not survive.
The Shocking Truth Behind the Murder
The subsequent police investigation revealed Anthony had suffered two blows to the head, the second occurring while Zoe was unconscious. Initially, Kat blamed Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), and Zoe was prepared to confess to protect her daughter from Chrissie's wrath. However, the tragic truth emerged when Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) revealed herself as the missing daughter and the stalker who had been terrorising Zoe.
In a chilling scene at the chapel of rest, Jasmine confronted her father's body, played one final time by Nicholas Bailey, and confessed to the murder, showing a video of the act while wishing he would "rot in hell".
A Fond Farewell from the Square
Marking the end of an era, EastEnders boss Ben Wadey presented Nicholas Bailey with a gift after his final scene, surrounded by his on-screen family. In a heartfelt speech shared on the show's Instagram, Wadey said, "Thank you so much for all of your time here with us... You came back to us as Anthony, but also, you’re such a lovely guy to have around. We’re gonna really miss you."
Amid applause and cheers from cast members including Rudolph Walker, Diane Parish, and Tameka Empson, Bailey addressed the fans directly. "So that’s it for Anthony – the final curtain has dropped on Anthony Trueman, who I’ve played for 25 years," he said. "I want to shout out to the fans. Thank you for everything... Wherever I go in the world, this will always be home."
The tribute concluded with a montage of Anthony's most memorable moments, from clashes with his brother Paul to his complex relationships with Kat and Zoe, cementing the legacy of a character who stirred two decades of chaos in Walford.
