EastEnders actor Nick Bailey has opened up about his character's dramatic and permanent exit from Albert Square, which aired in a shocking Christmas Day episode. Anthony Trueman was killed off exactly 25 years after his first appearance on the long-running BBC soap.
A Bittersweet Farewell to Walford
Nicholas Bailey described his departure as a "bittersweet" experience. The actor, who recently returned to the show after a lengthy absence, expressed sadness at leaving but honour at being given such a major storyline. "A Christmas storyline is a huge moment in soap, so to get that and a big Christmas Day exit was a real honour!" Bailey stated.
He admitted feeling "really at home" since his return to the BBC One series. However, he praised the ambitious plot, noting it gave him "much more to do than I expected" and allowed him to step out of his comfort zone with "spectacular scenes."
The Explosive Plot That Led to Anthony's Demise
The storyline reached its climax after a series of explosive revelations. Anthony had recently discovered he was the father of Zoe Slater's twins, having been unaware that newcomer Jasmine was his daughter. The tension culminated in a physical altercation with Zoe, leading to a fatal twist involving Chrissie Watts.
Bailey revealed his own surprise at the narrative's direction, particularly the paternity twist. "I really didn’t think Anthony was the father, so I was surprised because it had been concealed so well!" he shared. The actor said his "jaw hit the floor" when producer Ben Wadey outlined the character's dark turn and ultimate fate.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
Despite the sad ending, the actor is enthusiastic about the future drama his exit will catalyse for other characters. "I wanted to lean into the excitement of this story being a launch pad for some incredible stuff heading into 2026," Bailey explained. He added that while he is sad to say goodbye, he is "happy it means my friends are going to have some incredible stuff to play following his death."
Reflecting on his return stint, Bailey highlighted several fond memories, including:
- Reuniting on screen with co-stars Rudolph Walker and Jessie Wallace.
- Patrick and Yolande's wedding.
- The feud with Howie and exposing him to Kim and Patrick.
- The "terrific" surprise of working again with Michelle Ryan, who reprised her role as Zoe Slater.
EastEnders continues to air Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
