Note: This article contains discussion of dementia.
EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders has confirmed the futures of Nigel and Julie Bates following his worrying disappearance.
Nigel and Julie left Walford last week as she vowed to take her husband back home to Scotland following his diagnosis of early-onset dementia, with the move leaving Phil Mitchell devastated as he faced the prospect of living alone in East London again.
Monday’s (21 July) double-header began with a disconsolate Phil still ruing the departure of his close friend, unaware that Nigel was actually in a confused state on the London Underground.
He soon got a shock, however, as Julie arrived to inform him that Nigel had gone missing. She explained that she lost him while at the train station in Edinburgh, and Phil quickly enlisted the help of his friends and family to locate Nigel.
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Nigel eventually made his way back to East London, with Callum Highway finding him at Walford East station. Yolande Trueman arrived at the scene and calmed Nigel down, bringing him back home to Phil and Julie.
As Julie immediately discussed plans to head back to Scotland, Phil urged her to reconsider and reminded her that plenty of people in Albert Square cared for Nigel. To confuse matters further, Nigel expressed his desire to remain in Walford.
The second part of the double-bill began with Julie asking Nigel if he meant what he said, and Nigel replying that he had “found a home” in East London. Despite listening to his needs, Julie remarked that she was his wife and not a “house guest”.
A demoralised Julie headed to the café, where she confided in Jay Brown that she was torn between her love for Nigel and his own desires. In a heartfelt conversation, she considered whether it was the right idea to come to Walford.
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She eventually made the decision to return home, though confirmed to Nigel that it would be alone. Despite being overcome with emotion, Julie shared that she ultimately wanted her husband to be “happy”, tearfully adding that he was the “best man” she had ever met.
Phil, however, offered her a lifeline, saying that she could stay with the pair of them. Despite quipping that they “wouldn’t last five minutes together”, Julie agreed to Phil’s proposal, and Nigel promptly moved her bags upstairs.
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage
More information about dementia is available via organisations including the NHS and Dementia UK. Resources for readers in the US are available via the National Institutes of Health.