EastEnders fans are passionately calling for the dramatic return of Debbie Bates, a character who tragically died three decades ago, following the emotional comeback of her on-screen husband, Nigel Bates.
A Heartbreaking Exit and a Hopeful Return
Throughout the 1990s, Debbie Bates, portrayed by actress Nicola Duffett, was the beloved wife of Nigel Bates, played by Paul Bradley. The couple raised their daughter, Clare, forming one of Walford's most endearing families.
However, their story was cut short in 1995 when Debbie walked into a road and was killed by a passing vehicle, leaving Nigel utterly heartbroken. Nigel eventually found love again with his daughter's teacher, Julie Haye, and the couple left Albert Square for a new life in Scotland in 1998.
The landscape shifted dramatically when Nigel made a surprise return to Walford over Christmas 2024. In a poignant turn of events, he revealed he had been diagnosed with early-onset dementia.
Next month, the soap will air a special episode as Nigel's condition deteriorates, causing him to revisit memories from his past. In these touching scenes, his distorted reality will take him back to 1990, where he will encounter past characters like Pat Butcher and Barry Evans.
Where is Nicola Duffett Now?
Since her departure from the BBC soap, Nicola Duffett, now 62, has navigated a remarkable journey in both her career and personal life.
After her fame from EastEnders and a supporting role in the Oscar-winning film Howards End in 1992, she landed the part of Cat Matthews in the Channel 5 soap Family Affairs from 1998 to 2005.
During this period, she enjoyed a life of luxury, funded by a substantial salary that allowed for three holidays a year, dining in upscale restaurants, and frequent shopping trips to Harrods.
This lavish lifestyle came to an abrupt end when Family Affairs was axed in 2005. In a 2009 interview with The Croydon Advertiser, Duffett confessed, "I wish I had learned to save, but we actors and actresses just are not very business-minded. I just went into a bad place when they axed Family Affairs."
She detailed her difficult transition from television star to visiting the Job Centre and was declared bankrupt in 2007. She learned to adapt, finding satisfaction in bargain hunting rather than extravagant spending.
A Resilient Acting Career
Thankfully, Nicola's professional fortunes improved. Her acting career saw a resurgence with various television roles.
She appeared as Reet Ellison in Endeavour (2020), Amy Penketh in The Coroner (2016), and Daisy Skelton in Waterloo Road (2013), among others.
She also secured a role on the rival cobbles, playing Lucie Fernsby in Coronation Street for four episodes in 2020. More recently, she featured in Murder, They Hope and the Amazon Prime series Agatha Raisin in 2022.
With Nigel Bates's poignant dementia storyline unfolding, the question on every fan's mind is whether Nicola Duffett could be convinced to return as Debbie Bates one last time, perhaps as a figment of Nigel's memory, to bring his story full circle.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 6am.
