The popular BBC soap character was fighting for his life after being left alone in the bath

View 2 Images

Nigel Bates in hospital with his wife Julie Bates on EastEnders(Image: BBC )

EastEnders fans were left ‘in tears’ as they ‘worked out’ what happens next to Nigel Bates on the BBC soap amid his ongoing struggles with dementia.

Returning to Albert Square in 2024, Nigel initially said his wife Julie left him, only for it to later emerge that he ran away from home after fearing he was becoming a burden to his family due to his memory loss.

Living with Phil, who is his carer, Nigel was stunned during the summer when Julie arrived in Walford and brought him home to Scotland. Eventually realising this wasn’t the right thing to do, Nigel and Julie have been living in Phil’s house amid fears his condition was worsening.

Back at Christmas, Nigel began hallucinating people in his life who have died over the years, including Pat Butcher, Barry Evans and his first wife Debbie. On top of this, Nigel has begun hitting Julie.

On Wednesday night (February 4), Nigel and Julie renewed their wedding vows in an emotional ceremony in front of their friends. Julie decided to put her feud with Phil to bed and move back in with him.

However, Phil failed to inform her about a care home ringing about Nigel and that it was Mark Fowler Jr who told her that he wanted to bring him to Portugal. As this was happening, Nigel was left unattended in his bath and fell under the water.

Scenes aired on Thursday night (February 5), Phil realised he left Nigel alone and raced upstairs to find Nigel lying underwater unconscious. Working hard to make sure Nigel was okay, he and Mark managed to get some of the water out and ring an ambulance.

View 2 Images

Nigel Bates is currently battling dementia on EastEnders(Image: BBC)

Sadly, Honey Mitchell had to break the news to Julie and Harry’s Barn with Nigel’s wife helpless as she saw him taken away from Phil’s house by medics.

Once at the hospital, Phil lied and said that he was only away from Nigel for a minute. A doctor informed them that while he could have died, Nigel was in a stable condition.

After a heart to heart with Linda Carter, Phil confessed to Julie that he was away from Nigel longer than he should have been. Forgiving him for this, Julie was still angry that he kept the care home’s phone call away from her.

Deciding to leave their differences in the past, Julie and Phil made the tough to decision that it’s time for them to accept the care home offer before it’s too late for Nigel.

EastEnders fans watching the heartbreaking episode at home rushed to the soap’s Reddit page to have their say on what happened and predict what will happen next.

@McZadine said: “There is a set for the care home, as we saw it when Phil, Julie and Nigel went for a visit weeks ago, so this won’t be the last we see of Nigel. Still heartbreaking to watch though.”

@pietro1587 wrote: “Glad Nigel is going to be ok but my heart broke for Phil at the end, his face said it all. Steve has rocked this plot from day one.” @itsamy_xo posted on X, previously known as Twitter: “nigel’s story is absolutely heartbreaking. paul, steve and karen are simply phenomenal. i was in tears by the end of today’s episode.”

@Anutweeted commented: “Omg I was actually nearly about to cry last night when Nigel went down in his bath. I thought that was the end. thank the LORD Phil realised and came to his aid!” @PsychoBunneh stated: “Karen Henthorn deserves an award for her portrayal of Julie Bates during Nigel’s dementia story line. Brilliant acting. #EastEnders.”