In dealing with the ever-worsening symptoms of Nigel Bates’ (Paul Bradley).dementia in EastEnders, wife Julie (Karen Henthorn) and best friend Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) have often butted heads while trying to find a middle ground on how best to manage him.
Amid Phil’s reluctance to place Nigel into a care home, he plotted to whisk his best friend away to Portugal without telling anybody, determined that Nigel spend his last days somewhere with a bit less misery and bloodshed than Albert Square.
The reappearance of Phil’s nephew, Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple), however, lead to Julie discovering the plan and deciding that both she and Nigel should move out of Phil’s house.
Julie booked them in to Elaine Peacock’s (Harriet Thorpe) boutique hotel (B&B to us regular folk), while looking for something more long term.
Unfortunately, the change of scenery and routine sees Nigel struggle and, seeing the difficulties both Nigel and Julie are facing, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) reaches out to Phil to help, completely unaware of what’s caused the seismic rift between he and Julie.
Without Phil to watch Nigel, Julie cancels her plans for the day. When Linda overhears, she offers to sit with him so Julie can take a breather. Touched by the kind offer, she plans a break.
As it’s time for her to leave, though, a confused and distressed Nigel lashes out and hurts Julie.
Though quick to play things off, Linda is absolutely gobsmacked to see that Julie’s arms are covered in bruises as the full weight of what she’s been dealing with becomes painfully clear.
After she, again, calls on Phil to offer his support to the struggling couple, Julie finally tells Linda that he tried to take Nigel out of the country without her knowledge, much less her approval.
With a new understanding of how deep Phil’s betrayal runs, Linda commits to offering Julie her full support and offers to organise the vow renewal for Julie and Nigel. Bowled over by Linda’s kindness, Julie readily accepts, on one condition: Phil isn’t to be invited.
Prior to the ceremony, a confused Nigel wanders across to Phil’s house, understandably presuming that he’ll be acting as his best man. Phil is furious to be left out of the proceedings, though promises to escort Nigel to the vow renewal. He’s holding a secret of his own, though – there’s a place for Nigel that’s opened up.
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Will the special day Linda’s planned for Nigel and Julie crumble into chaos? Or can Phil and Julie put their differences aside for the sake of Nigel?
