OMG SHOCKING!!! EastEnders finally confirms Julie’s Walford future – and it’s not good news
EastEnders appears to have confirmed Julie Bates’ long-term future on Albert Square after she delivered a tear-jerking eulogy at husband Nigel’s funeral. Actress Karen Henthorn returned to the soap last summer as Nigel’s dementia storyline began gathering pace.
This evening’s single-strand episode saw Walford saying its final goodbyes to Paul Bradley’s beloved character, who died at the end of last month.
As part of Julie’s devastating speech in the church, she looked out over the large group of mourners and said: “Looking at all of you now, thinking of all the people that Nigel loved and lost, I know that that love will go on and his kindness and his laughter, it will live on. And that is the greatest legacy of all.”
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Later, at the wake, she told Phil: “You know, even with all the sad memories, I’m really gonna miss this place.”
Phil laughed in response: “You ain’t going anywhere. You’re one of us! Like it or not.”
Julie smiled, but said: “Thank you. I know, but I want to remember him happy. And my happiest memories of him are back home, so…”
At that point, returning characters Clare (Gemma Bissix) and Josh (Jon Lee) interrupted and gave their mum a hug, stopping Phil from pressing any further. So will Julie really leave?
Fans have reacted strongly to the scenes since they debut on iPlayer this morning, with one writing on X: “I am absolutely devastated about Julie Bates leaving #EastEnders. Karen Henthorn is a fantastic actress who has really came into her own this past year and moulded Julie into a much loved and cherished character the 2nd time around.”
Another wrote: “I’m not emotionally ready to say good bye to julie tomorrow. karen henthorn, PLEASE DONT GO!!!!!!!!!”
A third said: “Julie has been my favourite returnee of recent times, because it made sense. They didn’t try to write a new story to cover Nigel’s time away, they instead revived a short-term character and massively expanded the role. It’s exactly what soaps should be doing.”
Fans will have to keep an eye on the BBC soap to see how exactly it plays out.