EastEnders fans spot ‘biggest clue yet' huge star is set to return to soap 17 years after exit
The character has family connections in Albert Square despite leaving almost two decades ago.
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Viewers have been gripped by Nigel Bates' (Paul Bradley) health storyline since he returned to EastEnders last year.
The soap icon has been suffering from young onset dementia and been struggling to cope.
Fans have shared their hopes for Nigel's adoptive daughter Clare Bates (Gemma Bissix) to join him in Walford again.
Taking to Reddit, a viewer shared a screenshot of Gemma's sharing kind words on Instagram about former co-star Steve McFadden - who plays Phil Mitchell.
This user penned: "Probably a stretch but I'm hoping that Gemma Bissix (Claire Bates) talking about Steve McFadden a few weeks back means she'd be open come and give Nigel a little visit!
"She obviously still watches the show, so she'll know Paul Bradley is back."
Gemma originally played Clare Bates in the BBC soap from 1993 until leaving alongside Nigel in 1998.
The character returned as an adult in 2008 - reconnecting with Dot Cotton (June Brown) and having a brief romance with Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements).
This fell apart when Bradley discovered Clare's plans to take his money and demanded she leave Walford.
Nigel himself returned to Walford in 2024 - while the likes of Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and David Wicks (Michael French) all returned for guest appearances around the same time.
EastEnders airs shock return for character after 27 years - but with a twist
The Sun previously revealed Gemma was reprising her role as another Clare - Hollyoaks villain Clare Devine.
A source said: 'Gemma's much anticipated return to Hollyoaks has been kept top secret and her character is set to stir up plenty of on-screen drama as the soap kicks into gear around it's 30th birthday.
'She is delighted to be asked back, especially as she's rising from the dead. The scenes will be explosive.'
It means fans are left divided as to whether the actress would return to EastEnders.
One viewer commented: "She's just signed on for Hollyoaks so probably not likely.
"I can't believe no one has tried to find contact methods for Julie yet and told her."
EastEnders' 40th anniversary cameos so far
With the 40th anniversary of EastEnders coming up, fans are looking forward to some more incredible cameos from iconic faces of Walford's past. But who have we had so far?
Tracy-Ann Oberman - Oberman returned as Chrissie Watts, a character she last played nearly two decades ago.
Paul Bradley - Bradley returned as Nigel Bates, a character he last played over 25 years ago.
Micheal French - French returned as David Wicks, a character he last played two decades ago.
Patsy Palmer - Palmer returned as Bianca Jackson, a character she last played in 2019.
Ricky Groves - Groves returned as Garry Hobbs, a character who has not been seen since 2009.
Cliff Parisi - Parisi returned as Minty Peterson, a character who was last seen on the square in 2010.
Ross Kemp - Kemp has returned to play Grant Mitchell, a character he first played in 1990. The BBC has described Kemp's storyline as "explosive". Kemp said it was an "absolute honour" to return to the show.
Other aspects of the EastEnders 40th anniversary celebration include: A wedding between fan favorites, A huge explosion at the Queen Vic, and A live interactive episode.
While another suggested: "Whilst Gemma is returning to Hollyoaks, there could be a slim possibility she has already filmed something and its being kept under wraps like other surprise appearances have been."
They added: "We can only live in hope."
Gemma's Hollyoaks character Clare wreaked havoc in the iconic Cheshire village.
However, she was once thought to have been killed by Dr. Browning back in 2013.
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'I've decided that today is the day I am throwing this battery, chemical, addictive, horrible thing away. I am now doing vapes no more from today. 'I've got the strength to get rid of them. Join me. It's going in the bin, that's it. I've cleared all of my vapes out of the car and everything.' Amy's life was put at risk when she was on the way to receive her organ transplant at the hospital as climate activists blocked the road. Katie explained that Amy only had two weeks to live at the time and 'nearly died' because you only have three hours to get to hospital for a transplant. While she was being rushed to the hospital, the road was blocked by Just Stop Oil, who had staged a protest on the M25. Amy - who had suffered from chronic lung condition idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis - had just weeks left to live until she found a donor for a lung. Speaking on the Private Parts podcast, she said: 'Mum had two weeks left to live at the time. She found a donor. She was waiting five years for a lung. 'It was the day all the oil protesters were on the M25 and you have three hours to get to hospital otherwise you can't have the donor [organ]. 'So they had to get an ambulance. When they were on the motorway, they didn't realise!' However, Katie went on to add that a heroic ambulance driver went on to save the day by cutting through to make sure she got to the hospital on time. She said: 'They had to go up the hard shoulder, and get an ambulance to get through it, because if you're not there you lose it [the lung].' Amy previously hailed the medical staff who carried out her operation as 'amazing' and also paid tribute to the regular faces she saw on every hospital appointment because they meant Katie could feel 'less worried' about her when she was unable to be by her side. Amy and granddaughter Princess Katie's daughter Princess is currently trying to create her own image away from her famous parents after dropping new ITV reality show, The Princess Diaries. Growing rumours of a 'rift' between Katie and Princess have been growing in recent weeks after Katie didn't appear at Princess' 18th birthday party. Reports then claimed the former glamour model was allegedly 'banned' from appearing on the nepo baby's fly-on-the-wall television series. Katie later claimed that it was her daughter's management who had told her not to appear on the show. Yet amid the swirling rumours about a family rift, Katie has called on Peter to sit down with her and 'squash their beef' for the sake of their family. Speaking on the latest on the latest episode of her Katie Price Show podcast, Katie - who is currently recovering from more facial surgery - shared: 'There's no reason why both parents just can't be there to support her.' She continued: 'Now this isn't about me. I have to clarify this. I don't care that I'm not in Princess's show. 'I don't need to raise my profile by being on Princess's show, I do enough stuff. 'All what I want to do, is just whatever my daughter does, and it's the same with Junior, I don't care if I'm in the background, but I want to watch her do her photo shoots, I wanna watch her do her signings, because that's what I did. 'And my mom and you and Nan used to come along and support, and I'm proud of her. And I just wanna be there with her because I now I feel that I've missed out on so much.' Katie went on: 'It's so not fair to bring Princess piggy in the middle. 'So I think it's about time all of us adults just sit down and talk about what their beef is with me and just get over it. 'Life would be more at peace because I don't have a problem. I just think life would be a better place. 'Well, I'm not saying we all have to be best buddies, best friends, but come on. For the sake of the children, there's room for everyone to support your kids. Do you know what I mean? 'I'm not saying I have to stand with them and play happy families.' MailOnline has contacted Peter's representatives comment. It is well known that Katie and Peter don't get on, but the ex model previously thanked her mother Amy for sticking up for her after her daughter Princess was burned as a three-year-old. The incident progressed quickly as soon police were involved after the toddler burned her back on a hot towel rail during a holiday to Switzerland. Amy accused Peter of over-reacting to the incident, insisting it was a minor injury, she told the Daily Mirror at the time: 'I don't understand why Pete is having a go at Kate. 'Her sister Sophie and I were the ones with Princess when it happened and I know it was a fluke accident - and just how minor it is.' She added: 'Princess went straight back to playing. She slept soundly without pain and a week later there was barely a mark on her.' After her mother leaped to her defence, Katie wrote on her Twitter page: 'Love my mum.' Following the incident, police were tipped off and visited Katie at home, but Peter insisted he wasn't the one who contacted them. In a statement on her website, Katie accused Peter of making the incident public to 'score points' and 'portray her as a bad mother.' His publicist Claire Powell said Peter only learned of the investigation when contacted by the police.
