Glad to have you back
Former EastEnders actress Karen Henthorn is making a comeback to the soap as Julie Bates, 27 years after her last appearance in Walford.
The storyline will see Nigel Bates, who is battling dementia, reunited with his wife Julie when she arrives in the Square searching for him.
Karen will reprise the role of Julie this summer, nearly three decades after her departure from the show.
EastEnders star Karen Henthorn to reprise role as Julie Bates
This summer, Karen Henthorn will return to EastEnders as Julie Bates, the wife of Nigel Bates.
Julie was last seen on screen in 1998 when she and Nigel left Walford to start a new life in Scotland.
Last year, Nigel left Julie without explanation and reappeared in Walford, where he moved in with his longtime friend Phil Mitchell.
Nigel has been helping Phil cope with his mental health issues, and in return, Phil has been supporting Nigel through his battle with dementia.
Recently, Nigel confided in Phil that he didn’t want to tell Julie about his dementia, fearing he might become a burden to her.
Now, Julie is about to embark on a search for Nigel, leading to a reunion on Albert Square as she uncovers the true reason behind his departure.
Karen Henthorn Expresses Excitement Over Julie Bates’ Return
New EastEnders producer Ben Wadey, who recently took over from Chris Clenshaw, spoke about Karen Henthorn’s return as Julie, saying: “We’re thrilled to welcome Karen back to reprise her role as Julie, who comes searching for Nigel. Julie hasn’t seen Nigel in nearly two years and doesn’t know about his diagnosis or why he left, so her arrival will raise important questions for both of them.”
Actress Karen Henthorn shared her thoughts: “It feels quite surreal to be back on Albert Square after 27 years and to be working again with the wonderful Paul Bradley — it’s incredible how quickly time has passed! Julie faces some tough surprises after initially feeling relieved to find out Nigel is alive. Filming with Paul and Steve (McFadden) has been fantastic; they are such great actors as Julie uncovers Nigel’s dementia diagnosis and why he kept it from her.”
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