Dementia in EastEnders spotlight: Iconic character returns after 27 years in tragic story

EastEnders has announced the return of Karen Henthorn as Julie Bates, set to make waves in Walford this summer. The character was last seen over two decades ago, departing the Square in 1997, and will reappear amidst her husband Nigel Bates' (played by Paul Bradley) escalating battle with dementia.

Nigel made a surprise comeback last year, revealing he had parted ways with Julie. He later confessed his true reasons for leaving; his determination to face his dementia without burdening Julie.

But as Phil Mitchell struggles to care for his friend alone, it's taken a harrowing toll.

Kat Slater noticed Phil's distress and urged him to contact Julie, despite Phil's hesitance to go against Nigel's wishes. Nevertheless, it appears Kat's advice has won out, ushering in Julie's long-awaited return.

It's been an astonishing 27 years since Karen graced Albert Square alongside Paul Bradley. Reflecting on the experience, she expressed how "delightful" it has been to reunite with her former co-star, reports the Mirror.

"It's very surreal to be back in Albert Square after 27 years and working with the delightful Paul Bradley again - it's scary how fast the time has gone!" she remarked.

She hinted at a rocky path ahead for her character: "Julie has got some awful surprises ahead of her after the initial relief she feels to discover Nigel is still alive. It's been great to film with Paul and Steve (McFadden), who are such lovely actors, as Julie discovers Nigel's dementia diagnosis and why he chose to hide it from her."

Executive Producer Ben Wadey has expressed his excitement over Karen Henthorn's return to the iconic Square as Julie, stating: "We are delighted to have Karen Henthorn returning to reprise her role as Julie, who arrives looking for Nigel.

"Julie hasn't seen Nigel in almost two years and is unaware of his diagnosis and reasons for leaving, so her arrival will pose questions for the pair of them."

Although it's been nearly thirty years since Julie was last spotted on the Square, her voice made a surprise comeback earlier this year when Nigel received a voicemail from his wife. In the message, Julie's voice implored: "Nigel, it's Julie again. I don't know if you got my last message or..

"Listen, Nigel, I promise I'm not cross, whatever reason you walked out and disappeared, I just really need to know if you're alright mate."

While the exact date of Julie's onscreen appearance remains under wraps, with Karen already on set, viewers can anticipate her arrival in the forthcoming weeks.

The big question remains: how will Nigel respond to Julie's unexpected return?