It’s a homecoming for Gemma Bissix (Picture: BBC/Kieron McCarron)
Years before Gemma Bissix became Chester’s ultimate villain, the delightfully devilish, red stilletto-clad Clare Devine in Hollyoaks, she was introduced to the nation at the tender age of 10, when she joined EastEnders as troubled pre-teen Clare Bates.
(We know, it’s a little confusing.)
Clare is the step (later, adopted) daughter of Walford legend, Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley), who won custody of Clare over her abusive dad, after the tragic death of her mum.
His current wife, Julie (Karen Henthorn) was Clare’s teacher, and romance blossomed between them as they worked together to tackle the youngsters troublesome school behaviour.
When Nigel fell for Julie and Clare fell for her son, Josh (a pre-S Club Jon Lee), the foursome moved to Scotland for a new life.
Clare later returned, transformed into a gold-digging bitch, potentially inspired by Gemma’s recent turn as Hollyoaks premiere uber-bitch, for a short stint in 2008 but, until now, had been notably absent as Nigel’s dementia plot has become one of ‘Enders most prominent storylines.
Gemma describes being reunited with Paul Bradley after 20 years (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Viewers have been utterly clamouring for the return of Clare, and now, they’ve got their wish and fresh off a blood-soaked stint back in Hollyoaks as the other Clare, the original is returning to Walford.
Better late than never, right?
‘It was a long time coming!’ Gemma said, when asked about how it felt to receive the call from ‘Enders bosses regarding a return.
‘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 9.
‘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. They make me feel like I’m a child again, in the best possible way.’
Clare talked about feeling ‘like a child’ again (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
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When asked if anything felt different upon her latest return, Gemma was quick to answer that it didn’t: ‘It felt exactly the same, and there are a lot of the same faces. It’s got so much history. I grew up on that show, so it’s like going back to a holiday spot you used to go to when you were a child.
‘Seeing Paul for the first time was great and he gave me the biggest hug. It was so lovely to see Steve McFadden. I was also really close to Barbara Windor when I worked there before, and she got me my agent when I left, and I’m still with that agency to this day, so there’s such a legacy for me there.
‘The funniest thing is the people who really haven’t changed to me are Jane Slaughter who plays Tracy, Ulric who plays Winston, and some of the actors in the market as they’ve been there for the best part of 20 years.’
Gemma has been thrilled to be reunited with her former co-stars (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Discussing the estrangement between Clare and Nigel in the years since they were last on screen together, Gemma said: ‘Clare has always wanted to come back and see him, and when she does find out he’s got dementia, I don’t think she realises how advanced it is.
‘Clare feels like Julie has done it to get back at her; she feels like Julie has only called her at this late stage as a punishment. In Clare’s mind, it does feel quite cruel because I think Clare really wanted the chance to apologise to her dad.
‘The last time we saw her in the show, she was a bit of a man eater, 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.
Gemma was thrilled to be back in Walford (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
‘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 heart breaking for her.’
Will Clare manage to find what she’s looking for? Gemma said: ‘It’s healing that Clare sees the love that Nigel had for Lexi, and when he mistakes Lexi for Clare, it gives her comfort as it reminds her how much Nigel did love Clare when they were young.’
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