EastEnders actor Paul Bradley has reflected on his character Nigel Bates' final scenes, which air this week as Nigel loses his battle with dementia. Bradley, who has played the role on and off for 34 years, described the ending as 'beautiful' despite the heartbreaking subject matter.
Returning to the soap for the past 16 months, Bradley said it was a privilege to tell such an important story. He praised the writing for reconciling loose ends and ending on a hopeful note. The actor noted that EastEnders has a tradition of handling difficult subjects responsibly.
Bradley revealed that he conducted his own research, including reading a book by a woman with dementia, to portray the condition truthfully. He highlighted that some people experience hallucinations, which can be positive, and he incorporated that into his performance. The show worked closely with Dementia UK to ensure accuracy.
Viewers have responded emotionally to the storyline, with one woman in Cork thanking Bradley for raising awareness. He emphasised the responsibility of actors to tell such stories truthfully, especially as the gradual worsening of symptoms was shown in real time over the course of the storyline.
