EASTENDERS has confirmed Nigel Bates’ heartbreaking secret and the reason he’s really back in Walford after 27 years.
Fans of the BBC soap were delighted to see Paul Bradley reprise his role as Nigel after decades away from Walford just before Christmas.
Nigel appeared homeless as Yolande Trueman served him at soup kitchen, before Phil Mitchell gave him a place to stay.
Nigel told Phil he had split from Julie, but it was revealed that wasn’t the case when he received a message from her where she begged him to get in touch and come home.
EastEnders viewers started to suspect Nigel was keeping a secret from Phil and his other Walford friends, and tonight it was finally revealed.
Nigel had tried to flee the Square before seeking refuge in the Laundrette.
Yolande had spotted him and followed him inside, where she could see he was upset and distressed.
When Nigel dropped his phone as it buzzed, Yolande picked it up and saw it was an alarm reminding him to eat his dinner.
Nigel admitted he sometimes forgot to eat if he was distracted and Yolande probed gently: “You’re not well are you Nigel? It’s ok, you can talk to me.”
After taking some breaths Nigel got Yolande to promise not to tell anyone before admitting: “I’ve got dementia.”
EastEnders is working with experts and organisations in the field, including Dementia UK, on a storyline, which explores the issue of young on-set dementia.
The diagnosis of young on-set dementia is given to those experiencing dementia symptoms at age 65 and under.
Nigel is set to reveal more about his diagnosis and how it impacts his life in upcoming episodes, but viewers will have to wait and see if he can bring himself to tell his old friends Phil and Sharon.
Speaking of the storyline, EastEnders Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw said: “Nigel’s story will explore the challenges faced by people diagnosed with young on-set dementia and their loved ones, which is why working with Dementia UK has been so vital.
“As Nigel’s story unfolds, viewers will learn more about the decisions he’s made and how he’s coping with such a difficult diagnosis.”
Dr Hilda Hayo, Chief Admiral Nurse and CEO of Dementia UK added: “We’re pleased to be working alongside EastEnders to help raise awareness of young on-set dementia, a condition which is often misunderstood.
“Obtaining a diagnosis of young on-set dementia can be challenging, and it is often even harder to find age-appropriate support.
“Our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses work with people like Nigel across the country, and we know the confusion, fear and anxiety he feels is a reflection of what many people go through every day.”
Dementia – the most common form of which is Alzheimer’s – comes on slowly over time.
As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe.
But at the beginning, the symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for normal memory issues related to ageing.
The US National Institute on Aging gives some examples of what is considered normal forgetfulness in old age, and dementia disease.
You can refer to these above.
For example, it is normal for an ageing person to forget which word to use from time-to-time, but difficulting having conversation would be more indicative of dementia.
Katie Puckering, Head of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team, previously told The Sun: “We quite commonly as humans put our car keys somewhere out of the ordinary and it takes longer for us to find them.
“As you get older, it takes longer for you to recall, or you really have to think; What was I doing? Where was I? What distracted me? Was it that I had to let the dog out? And then you find the keys by the back door.
“That process of retrieving the information is just a bit slower in people as they age.
“In dementia, someone may not be able to recall that information and what they did when they came into the house.
“What may also happen is they might put it somewhere it really doesn’t belong. For example, rather than putting the milk back in the fridge, they put the kettle in the fridge.”
Dr Karen Harrison Dening, Head of Research and Publications at Dementia UK, said: “We hope this storyline helps to shed some light on the challenges a diagnosis of young on-set dementia can bring.
“It tackles sensitive topics and hard truths, but we know that thousands of people in the UK are facing these every day.
“The production team has shown a strong commitment to delivering a sensitive depiction, which we hope will spark conversations and encourage people to reach out to our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses for support when they need it.”
Dementia UK has a dedicated helpline. Anyone who needs support or advice on living with dementia can contact their free Helpline on 0800 888 6678 or by emailing helpline@dementiauk.org.
