Paul Bradley, who has played Nigel Bates on and off for 34 years, has reflected on the character's final dementia storyline, describing it as a 'privilege' to return for such a resonant and important narrative. The actor, who reprised the role 16 months ago, said working again with co-star Steve McFadden was 'fantastic' and that the storyline has been a 'rollercoaster'.
Bradley praised the scripts for Nigel's final week, calling them 'very moving' and noting that despite the heartbreaking subject matter, the ending is 'beautiful' and reconciles loose ends on a hopeful note. He highlighted EastEnders' tradition of responsibly tackling difficult subjects, adding that the gradual portrayal of Nigel's decline in real time echoes the 'long goodbye' experienced by families of dementia sufferers.
The actor revealed that the storyline has had a profound impact on viewers, with one woman in Cork thanking him for the important work. Bradley emphasised the responsibility to tell the story truthfully and noted that the collaboration with Dementia UK ensured authenticity. He also conducted his own research, reading a book by a woman with dementia, which taught him that hallucinations can be positive—a detail he incorporated into his performance.
Bradley described playing Nigel as akin to playing 'two or three characters' due to the character's gradual change, and expressed hope that the storyline shows both the hardship and joy of caring for someone with dementia. He concluded by saying he will watch the final episodes as a viewer, moved by the journey.
