Mere months after slipping on her trademark leopard print, dangly earrings and lighting up a ciggy to make a triumphant return to EastEnders as Pat Evans, television icon Pam St Clement has made another return to screens in a brand new role. She appeared in the second series of Disney+ smash hit Rivals, alongside returning stars David Tennant and Aidan Turner, whose character gave her quite a shock.
An Unexpected Encounter
After a bit of adult time with his wife Maud, played by Victoria Smurfit, in a hotel room, the two began bickering. Maud booted Declan from the room without a stitch of clothing on. Bumping right into Pam, she did a double take before asking, 'Is that Terry Wogan?' Forever an icon, is our Pam.
About Rivals
Rivals, set in the filthy rich county of Rutshire during the 1980s, focuses on the steamy affairs of its residents and is based on the famous bonkbuster book by Jilly Cooper. It was previously reported by The Sun that former EastEnders boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins was instrumental in persuading Pam to sign up for the cameo role.
A source said of Pam's guest spot: 'Pam's character comes face to face with a naked Aidan Turner, who plays telly star Declan O'Hara. She thinks she recognises him as a famous Irish TV interviewer. It's a moment that will delight fans of Rivals as well as devotees of EastEnders.'
Pat Evans Returns to Walford
Pam's EastEnders return came early for fans last year when it was announced that undisputed Walford royalty Pat would be returning from the dead, alongside her former step-son Barry Evans, also deceased, played by Shaun Williamson, as part of Nigel Bates' dementia storyline. As the symptoms of the disease intensified, Nigel found himself in a decidedly 1990s-style Queen Vic, where he was joined by Pat and Barry as he became lost in a hallucination.
Pam's Reflections
Speaking to The Mirror, Pam said of her return: 'Coming back to jump into those clothes and make-up again was strangely difficult. I thought it was going to be much easier, but I think I've probably been through the point in my life, having played her, where I had divested myself of her. Her accoutrement, her clothes, her make-up and everything else, and I thought I had, but the strange thing is that the public don't because it's so fresh. That's probably because there are a lot of repeats that go on, on television, like EastEnders classics and things like that.'
Pam admitted she'd been 'bowled over' by EastEnders boss Ben Wadey reaching out about the potential of a return, while also emphasising the key ingredient to embodying her legendary alter-ego: 'I think I was a bit bewildered, and a bit bowled over. I would say that the key to the whole ensemble must be the earrings.'
Ben Wadey said at the time of the announcement: 'Pat Evans is one of the most cherished and iconic characters to have graced the streets of Walford, and I know I speak on behalf of everyone when I say what a delight it was to see Pat and Pam back in The Queen Vic as she helps Nigel in his time of need.'
The special episode featured a number of other returns, with Daniel Delaney and Teddy Jay reprising their roles as young Phil and Grant Mitchell, while Nicola Duffett also returned as Nigel's long-dead first wife Debbie. Pam previously returned to play Pat as a hallucination when she appeared for her best friend and mortal enemy Peggy Mitchell's final scenes.
