NISH Panesar’s demise leaves a void in Walford that the soap will need to fill with another equally captivating character.
The streets of Walford have been left quieter – and a lot less menacing – after Nish Panesar’s explosive exit in EastEnders on New Years Day.
His death marked the end of an era for one of the soap’s most formidable villains, a character who manipulated, schemed, and terrorised his way into EastEnders history.
Nish’s charm and ruthlessness gave the Panesar family a fearsome edge.
From his calculated control over Suki to his sinister dealings with rivals, Nish commanded the screen with an intensity that made every scene with him must-watch TV.
But now that Nish is gone, the big question looms: who will step up to fill the power vacuum?
NISH’S ARRIVAL
Nish’s on-screen debut was perhaps the most-anticipated for a villain on the BBC soap.
After the arrival of the Panesar family in 2019, viewers were left wondering where the patriarch of the family was.
His killer backstory was revealed that he was in prison for murder after he killed a man he thought his wife Suki was having an affair with.
This indicated to viewers that he was an angry and dangerous man from the start.
From then, each member of the family would mention Nish, giving further insight into his character and his twisted relationships with his wife and kids.
His memorable debut in 2022 lived up to the high expectations of being a controlling, manipulative and volatile figure, who continues to cast a shadow over his family.
Nish made his name known as he quickly made enemies in Walford, including Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and other local power players, asserting his ambitions and willingness to cross anyone in his way.
During his time on the square, Nish caused chaos everywhere he went.
In a twist, the soap revealed Nish had another family, which introduced new characters Ravi, his ex-girlfriend Priya their kids Nugget and Avani, as they became a blended family with the Panesars.
SOAP viewers are frequently left heartbroken after watching some of their favourite characters bite the dust.
Here is a list of the most devastating deaths that have taken place in soapland over the years.
EASTENDERS
Barry Evans – Evil Janine (Charlie Brooks) lured her trusting fiance to Scotland for a quickie marriage after learning he was dying.
Her plan to inherit Barry’s fortune was thwarted when Barry told her that the doctors had mixed up his medical files.
Furious that she was no longer set for a windfall, she pushed Barry off a cliff after telling him their love was “fake”.
Bradley Branning – Bradley was accused of killing Stacey Slater’s rapist Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) after he punched him twice on the night he died.
He was spotted in the Square by a police woman who chased him up a fire escape.
Bradley lost his balance and tragically plunged to his death.
CORONATION STREET
Tina McIntyre – Tina was getting it on with Peter Barlow – despite him being married to Carla Connor.
When she threatened to reveal the truth, Carla’s brother Rob got into a physical altercation with her.
Tina lost her footing and fell off a balcony – then warned Rob she was going to tell the cops he pushed her.
In a panic, Rob brutally clobbered her over the head with a metal pipe.
Molly Dobbs – Molly was one of the victims in Corrie’s 2010 tram crash, alongside Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold).
Married to Tyrone (Alan Halsall), Molly had been having an affair with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in the months before her death.
This resulted in the birth of their son, Jack (Kyran Bowes), who was named after Jack Duckworth.
As fate would have it, Kevin’s wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) was by Molly’s side in her final moments.
Sally was stunned as Molly confessed Kevin was Jack’s father, before dying of her injuries.
Vera Duckworth – Having appeared regularly in Corrie since the 1970s, there was no denying Vera Duckworth was an iconic character.
Alongside her husband Jack, the pair formed one of the soap’s most beloved couples.
Viewers were heartbroken when Vera was killed off in 2008, being discovered having passed away peacefully in her chair.
Liz Dawn, who played Vera, made a brief return two years later for Bill Tarmey’s exit as Jack.
Paul Foreman – Fans were heartbroken when Paul Foreman succumbed to his illness after battling motor neurone disease.
Introduced in 2018 as David Platt’s (Jack P. Shepherd) cellmate, he later embarked on a romance – and marriage – with vicar Billy Mayhew.
The MND storyline was announced in 2023 – with the expectation it would result in the character’s death.
EMMERDALE
Sarah Sugden – After the family got into financial problems, Sarah’s son Andy (Kelvin Fletcher) decided to make some quick cash from an insurance company by setting fire to the Sugden barn.
He didn’t realise his mum was inside the building, and she got trapped in the blaze.
Nine villagers – The shocking 1993 plane crash episode brought in 18 million viewers for Emmerdale.
Mark Hughes was killed by a falling wall, Archie Brooks was burned by jet fuel, Elizabeth Pollard was killed by debris and newcomer Leonard Kempinski died in a car crash caused by the crash.
Five other non-recurring characters from the village also died.
HOLLYOAKS
Carmel McQueen – The talented singer died in shocking scenes when a train crashed into a her family’s car.
Carmel managed to free her cousin Theresa from the rubble – but got stuck in it herself.
Moments later the train exploded and Carmel died in the arms of her family members, promising to be their guardian angel.
Nish’s possessiveness and distrust of Suki led to a tense dynamic, especially as Suki (Balvinder Sopal) sought independence.
Their toxic marriage became a central theme in his arc that kept viewers gripped.
NISH’S EXIT
Viewers saw evil Nish poison Eve’s (Heather Peace) glass of champagne as the newlyweds celebrated.
He planned to poison himself and Suki too, until Ravi broke in.
Nish revealed to Ravi that he hurt Denise (Diane Parish), knowing that he will lash out and push him over the balcony.
But Suki came crashing to the ground with him, after he wrapped his hand around her gown.
The next episode revealed that Denise, Suki and Eve are alive as they recover in hospital and comprehend what Nish did to them.
Eve told Suki: “We’re free of him now, do you understand me? He’s dead, he can never hurt us again.”
Finding the words to speak, Suki replied: “We win.”
Nish’s remains were placed into a body bag, marking the end of his reign of terror over his family and the Walford community.
His demise leaves not just a gap in the Panesar clan but in the very fabric of Albert Square.
To fill this void, EastEnders needs a villain who’s multi-dimensional – someone viewers love to hate but can’t take their eyes off.
Whether it’s a returning legend like Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) plotting her next move or a fresh face ready to shake up the square, the new antagonist must bring drama, unpredictability, and layers of complexity.
The soap thrives on its larger-than-life baddies, and without one, the show risks losing its edge.
Let’s hope the EastEnders writers are already cooking up their next villainous masterpiece because Walford just isn’t the same without someone pulling the strings from the shadows.
PREVIOUS VILLAINS
Another previous soap villain that captured viewers’ attention and left a lasting impression was Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb).
He was a classic soap patriarch with a sinister edge. Manipulative and controlling, he wreaked havoc on the Mitchell family, especially his daughters Ronnie and Roxy.
His murder on Christmas Day 2009, at the hands of Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), was one of the soap’s most shocking and memorable episodes.
Smooth-talking but deadly, Steve Owen (Martin Kemp) was a villain who combined charm with a dangerous streak.
His calm demeanor masked his capacity for violence, as seen in the death of Saskia Duncan.
Steve’s complex character made him a fascinating addition to Albert Square.
Nick Cotton (John Altman) was the original EastEnders bad boy, whose deceit and criminal behavior earned him the nickname “Nasty Nick.”
From his attempted murder of his mother, Dot, to countless scams and betrayals, Nick’s villainy spanned decades, making him a quintessential soap antagonist.
And “Dirty Den” (Leslie Grantham) was a classic soap villain and smooth operator.
His ability to charm while scheming against friends and foes alike earned him legendary status in EastEnders.
Who will be the next big bad villain?
