The BBC soap will see the Mitchell brothers reunite to film poignant scenes for Nigel Bates’ dementia storyline, with Ross Kemp reprising his role as Grant Mitchell alongside Steve McFadden
Ross Kemp is making a return to Walford(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
EastEnders icons the Mitchell brothers have reunited to shoot moving scenes centred around Nigel Bates’ devastating dementia storyline.
New photos reveal the returning Walford favourite Ross Kemp stepping back into the shoes of Grant Mitchell, filmed alongside Steve McFadden, who portrays Grant’s elder brother Phil, on a coastal location near Portsmouth in Sussex, as they support their longtime mate as his condition progressively worsens.
Ross, now 61, was last spotted in Albert Square this past February during the soap’s landmark 40th-anniversary celebrations, returning to stand by his on-screen sibling during a harrowing suicidal crisis. He also heroically saved former flame Sharon Watts’ life, dramatically pulling her from the flames of the burning Queen Vic.
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Now he’s made another comeback to rally around dementia-stricken Nigel, portrayed by Paul Bradley, whose well-being is rapidly declining. The brothers are captured seated on a bench in a contemplative mood, both sporting their signature leather jackets. Phil is pictured enjoying a seaside walk with Nigel as well as sharing a brew beside a beach hut, in images obtained by The Sun.
Grant makes his way back to Walford following an urgent message from his son Mark, who has recently returned to the Square and has been staying with Phil, where Nigel is currently living with his wife Julie. Witnessing Nigel’s deteriorating condition firsthand, Mark pleads with his father to visit his longtime mate before it’s too late.
Nigel’s on-screen daughter Claire (Gemma Bissix) recently returned after an 18-year absence to be at her adoptive father’s bedside in the hospital. Discussing his forthcoming return to the BBC soap, Ross commented: “I’m truly delighted to be stepping back into Grant Mitchell’s shoes and returning to EastEnders later this year.”
In Thursday’s episode (March 5), Nigel ( Paul Bradley ) was thrown a going-away party at the Vic before moving to his new care home. While he was able to smile and laugh in the pub, as those around him reminisced, he was unable to remain completely in the present and struggled with his illness.
As he hopped in a taxi, Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) noted that Nigel was unlikely to ever be back to Albert Square – and fans agree. When he arrived at the care home, Nigel became agitated and then unresponsive. His behaviour was deeply distressing for Phil (Steve McFadden), who had been caring for his friend. Breaking down in tears, Phil apologised to Nigel and gave his hand a squeeze, but Nigel did not move. As such, many fans think Nigel will die soon.
“I don’t know why, but I feel maybe next week, maybe Nigel’s final week,” one wrote. “I don’t know because seeing this episode made it feel like his time is near, and it’s so devastating and heartbreaking.”
Another added that Nigel’s unresponsive behaviour made it look like he was already dead. “Very much looked like he died at the end of the episode as he didn’t react to the door slamming or the card falling.” Others shared that they thought this would become a euthanasia storyline. “I genuinely thought Phil was gonna suffocate Nigel OMG,” one wrote.
A second said: “For a minute there I thought Phil was gonna ease his pain by suffocating him by putting the jacket on him, but I’m glad it didn’t happen as it would have been even more heartbreaking.”
They later added that they loved a conversation between Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) and Nigel’s wife Julie Bates (Karen Henthorn) and felt this was leading towards Nigel’s death too: “I thought they were gonna go down the route of euthanasia.”
As part of Nigel’s dementia storyline, his daughter, Clare Bates (Gemma Bissix) has returned to the Square for a short stint. Clare is Nigel’s adoptive daughter. They became family in 1994 when he married her mother, and he continued to care for her after her mother died a year later.
Though Nigel and Clare both left the show shortly after, Clare made a comeback in 2008 without him, and she has made a return again. Her return was not such a happy one, as she had been estranged from her father, and he failed to recognise her for most of the episode. Eventually, Julie helped Nigel remember his daughter in a touching moment.
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