EastEnders fans are convinced that Clare Bates is set to make a permanent return after show bosses dropped a huge clue about her time on the show
EastEnders fans think Gemma Bissix could be returning to the soap on a full-time basis(Image: BBC)
EastEnders fans think that Clare Bates is set for a permanent comeback to Albert Square. The role made a star out of actress Gemma Bissix, 42, when she made her professional debut on the programme in 1993 and she remained on-screen until 2008 when she went on to appear on Dancing on Ice, Celebrity Masterchef and Doctors.
Gemma, who also currently stars as Clare Devine on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, made a surprise return to EastEnders earlier this year as her alter-ego formed part of a high-profile dementia storyline involving her adoptive father Nigel.
But over the weekend, the official YouTube for the soap uploaded a new video titled Get To Know Clare Bates out of the blue which got fans immediately speculated that the spontaneous nature of the new post meant that a full-time comeback for the character was on the cards.
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Gemma made a brief return in March which saw Clare reunited with her stepfather Nigel(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
The post read: “Clare Bates returned to The Square recently to visit her step father Nigel before he goes into full-time care – Let’s watch back some of her biggest moments throughout the years.”
In response, one viewer wrote: “Oh she’s still in it? I thought it was a flying visit,” whilst another said: “Why? Is she coming back?” A third begged: “Bring back clare shes interesting.” Over the last few years, several famous faces have made a comeback to the programme, with Michelle Collins returning as Cindy Beale, and Michelle Ryan arriving back in Albert Square as Zoe Slater after 20 years away. In the 40th anniversary special, Angie Watts (Anita Dobson) made a surprise appearance as a ghost to support her daughter Sharon (Letitia Dean) as she lay in the rubble of the Queen Vic.
Gemma, was just nine years old when she was cast on EastEnders, confessed it was emotional to reunite with her co-stars after so long, and to film the moment Clare and Nigel are brought back together. She’s thrilled to have been asked back by Executive Producer Ben Wadey, teasing what’s ahead.
Gemma revealed: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be back, and a privilege to be involved in Nigel’s poignant dementia storyline. I think it’s a storyline that sadly resonates with so many people and it’s been a real full circle moment for me, as EastEnders is where I learnt my craft as I was on the show from the age of nine.”
Gemma initially played the part of Clare on EastEnders from 1993 until 2008(Image: WireImage)
Gemma is also known for her role as Clare Devine on Hollyoaks
“I don’t think there is anything specific I do to get back into Clare, but I feel like Clare is actually very similar to myself. She’s probably one of the only characters that I’ve ever played that is so close to who I am as a person, and that’s probably because when you’re nine years old working on a TV show, you don’t really know anything else, or have much life experience, other than acting your version of that character from a version of your own reality.”
Gemma also touched on filming with actor Paul Bradley again, who plays Nigel. She said: “It was a long time coming, and I was just so chuffed because I haven’t seen Paul Bradley in over 20 years and so to be able to reconnect with him and work with him again felt like time had stood still.
“It was like no time had passed at all, and Paul is exactly the same lovely person he was before. Paul was sort of like a stepfather to me in real life at work, as we spent six years on screen together from 1993 to 1999, and Karen and I were close as well. It was a long time coming, and I was just so chuffed because I haven’t seen Paul Bradley in over 20 years and so to be able to reconnect with him and work with him again felt like time had stood still.
“It was like no time had passed at all, and Paul is exactly the same lovely person he was before. Paul was sort of like a stepfather to me in real life at work, as we spent six years on screen together from 1993 to 1999, and Karen and I were close as well.”
Speaking about the nature of her return storyline and reunion with her stepfather before the scenes went to air, Gemma added: “It’s a complete rejection in every sense of the word. It’s like losing her mum all over again, and I think she probably naively thought that Nigel would be around forever which is why I suppose she took for granted that she didn’t have to see him.
“Unless he was going to make the effort, she wasn’t going to, but it doesn’t mean that there isn’t any love there, it just means that it’s a fight of emotions. I think they both been waiting for each other to make the first move and reach out to one another.
“The last time we saw her in the show, she was a bit of a maneater, and a bit more of a con artist, and those actions probably came from her inner trauma, and having no one to discipline her because her mum died when she was young, and when Nigel met Julie, I think Clare felt really pushed out. All Clare wants is the love of her dad, and she can see that she might not have that again, and she’s missed her opportunity, so it’s really heartbreaking for her
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .