Gemma Bissix returns as Clare Bates in Nigel Bates dementia storyline

Gemma Bissix will reprise the role of clare bates for a short spring stint on the soap, returning to Walford after almost 18 years away as news of stepdad Nigel Bates’s dementia worsens. The move matters because her arrival forces a family reckoning over Nigel’s next stage of dementia care and follows production consultation with Dementia UK and external experts.

Clare Bates returns to Walford after almost 18 years

The character Clare Bates is set for a brief comeback this spring, marking a return to the Square after almost 18 years away from Walford; Bissix last appeared on the show in 2008. The actress has spent much of the past year reprising another soap role, Clare Devine in Hollyoaks, and has signalled the door is open for further returns to that series after the producers there, led by Hannah Cheers, promised never to kill the character off. For fans of clare bates, the casting answers longstanding calls for her to rejoin Nigel’s storyline.

Nigel Bates' diagnosis drives Clare's comeback

Clare comes back to Walford after being told Nigel’s dementia has deteriorated; that news prompts her to travel to the Square. On arrival she is taken aback by Nigel’s fragility and the reality of his prognosis hits hard. Nigel himself returned to the show just over a year ago after two decades off screens, and his comeback included reconnecting with best mates Phil and Grant Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden and Ross Kemp. Nigel’s diagnosis also prompted the return of his wife Julie Bates, played by Karen Henthorn, and prior to Clare’s arrival Nigel had at times mistaken several Square favourites for her.

Family debate over next stage of Nigel's dementia care

Despite lingering estrangement between Clare and Nigel, and fresh tensions with Julie, the family quickly realises that interpersonal drama must be set aside to decide what is best for Nigel. Emotions rise as old wounds surface, but Clare’s presence becomes essential as Nigel’s loved ones collectively weigh options for additional care. Ben Wadey, the show’s executive producer, says the production always intended to bring Clare back so the stepfather–daughter relationship could be revisited as Nigel’s dementia progresses and the family considers his care needs.

Production consulted Dementia UK and other experts

The production worked with Dementia UK and specialists in the field to shape the storyline and portray Nigel’s condition sensitively and accurately. That external consultation informed how decline, fragility and prognosis are shown on screen, and it is positioned as part of the reason the return of Clare carries narrative weight. What makes this notable is the combination of a high-profile character return with professional input, which raises expectations that the scenes will handle the subject with clinical as well as dramatic care.

Gemma Bissix reflects on revisiting Clare and future prospects

Bissix has described it as a pleasure to be invited back, saying she hoped for the call because fans wanted to see the relationship revisited and that reconnecting with Paul Bradley and Karen Henthorn felt like a full-circle moment after growing up on the set. The production notes that the Clare–Nigel pairing was a distinctive stepfather/stepdaughter dynamic in the 1990s. Ahead of the short stint, the programme’s scheduling remains unchanged: episodes air Mondays to Thursdays at 7. 30pm and most episodes drop early on the streaming service at 6am.

As the storyline unfolds on screen this spring, viewers will see Clare confront Nigel’s condition, attempt to mend fractured relationships with Julie, and join the family as they determine the practical next steps for Nigel’s care.