EastEnders legend quits Albert Square TONIGHT in heart-wrenching scenes - leaving best friend crushed
This evening's instalment (15 July) - which is available to watch on iPlayer now - will see Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) and his wife Julie (Karen Henthorn) wave goodbye to Walford in heart-wrenching scenes.
Right at the end of the instalment the pair are stood outside next to a taxi ahead of their journey home.
Julie tells Nigel: 'I think we should just go.
'Sometimes it's easier on everyone to just slip out. I think Phil might prefer it that way.'
As he tries to walk away, she says: 'You've got me!'
This evening's instalment (15 July) will see Nigel and his wife Julie (Karen Henthorn) wave goodbye to Walford in heart-wrenching scenes (pictured)
Nigel steps into the car and Julie tells him: 'Just focus on me.'
Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) is seen watching them from afar and smiles at the pair.
Julie gives her eye contact and steps into the taxi.
As Nigel looks out of the window of the vehicle, Linda smiles back at him.
'Let's get going, we don't want to miss that train, do we?' Linda tells Nigel as she puts her seat belt on.
The taxi drives away from the Square and Phil is captured sitting in his kitchen looking at an old picture of Nigel.
Some have taken to X to share their heartbreak already.
One said: 'I am so sad Nigel is gone. Loved the storyline and now poor Phil is alone again, hope they bring him back soon.'
'Oh no Nigel! I didn't think he was really leaving. I had hoped Julie would decide to move in to help Phil with him.'
'Goodbye, Nigel.'
'phil and linda in todays ep… i'm grateful they didn't kill nigel off the show he's been such a pleasure to watch these past few weeks.'
Just last month Karen's return to the BBC soap was confirmed.
The actress, 62, previously played Julie Bates on the show between 1997 and 1998.
Her alter-ego was last seen in Walford 27 years ago when she moved to Scotland with her husband Nigel.
But as viewers will know, Nigel returned to the Square in 2024, and told everyone that they had split... but it was actually he wanted to deal with his dementia by himself.
The cafe worker felt as if he was weighing his wife down.
However she returned to the Square to tell him that she's sticking around.
Karen said of reprising her role: 'It's very surreal to be back in Albert Square after 27 years and working with the delightful Paul Bradley again - it's scary how fast the time has gone!
'Julie has got some awful surprises ahead of her after the initial relief she feels to discover Nigel is still alive.
'It's been great to film with Paul and Steve (McFadden), who are such lovely actors, as Julie discovers Nigel's dementia diagnosis and why he chose to hide it from her.'
Executive Producer Ben Wadey added: 'We are delighted to have Karen Henthorn returning to reprise her role as Julie, who arrives looking for Nigel.
'Julie hasn't seen Nigel in almost two years and is unaware of his diagnosis and reasons for leaving, so her arrival will pose questions for the pair of them.'
EastEnders isn't the only role that Karen has held on a soap over the years - she also played Teresa Bryant on Coronation Street between 2007 and 2009.
She's also been in Doctors, Heartbeat and Trollied.
The star also played the school inspector in Young Dracula.
More recently she took on the role of Emily in The Listeners.
The actress currently teaches students at the Italia Conti Academy.
Meanwhile Paul appeared on EastEnders between 1992 and 1998, followed by another stint in 2024.
He has also landed roles in various other TV shows such as Holby City, My Family, Doctors, The Bill and Beyond Paradise.
Announcing the news that he would be back on the Square, Paul said:
He said: 'I'm thrilled and honoured to be back as Nigel. Despite it being such a long time ago, I still get recognised as Nigel in the street.
'Returning has been great as I'm so familiar with many of the faces at EastEnders, and they are a very friendly bunch.
'It's fantastic to work with Steve McFadden again - I'm a huge admirer of his work, and he sets the bar really high. I'm having a really good time.'
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
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