EastEnders fans will see Julie Bates return to Walford after Nigel Bates finally admitted to Phil Mitchell that he had been diagnosed with dementia
EastEnders has welcomed back the character of Julie Bates after more than 27 years since she left Walford to embark on a new life with Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley).
Nigel mysteriously left Julie last year and made a surprise return to Walford at Christmas, reuniting with his old mate Phil Mitchell (Steve Mitchell). Initially, he told friends that he had split from his wife, Julie, before revealing a devastating truth.
Nigel admitted that he didn’t want to become a burden to Julie due to his dementia, so he decided to vanish and face his condition alone. Julie has been trying to reach Nigel, and upon her arrival in Walford, she will be shocked to discover her husband’s diagnosis.
Phil, who is looking after Nigel, will clash with Julie over her plan to take Nigel ‘home’ to Scotland, while Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) attempts to support him. Will Julie succeed in taking Nigel away from Walford?
Actress Karen Henthorn first appeared in Walford as Julie in 1997, and is recognised as the mother of Josh Saunders, portrayed by S Club 7 star Jon Lee, reports OK!
Julie initially entered the scene as Clare Bates’ (played by Gemma Bissix) teacher, Nigel’s step-daughter, and eventually formed a close relationship with the video shop worker.
Their on-screen romance flourished, leading them to depart Walford for Scotland in April 1998 to start a fresh chapter together. As Karen makes her comeback to EastEnders as Julie Bates, here’s where you might have seen the actress before.
What other roles has Karen Henthorn played?
At the age of 62, Karen Henthorn boasts a rich acting career. Fans of soap operas will recall her as Teresa Bryant in Coronation Street from 2007 to 2010.
The character first graced our screens in March 2007 as the ex-wife of Jerry Morton and mother to Jodie, Darryl, Mel, and Kayleigh.
Her youngest lad, Finlay, was born out of an affair, but was taken under Jerry’s wing after Teresa left him behind to go on holiday. Her neglectful actions were enough to make viewers dislike her, but Teresa hit a shocking new low in 2008 when she moved in with the Mortons to help look after her former husband Jerry.
Jerry was poisoned and subsequently collapsed, hitting his head on the coffee table and suffering a bleeding ear.
Teresa admitted to the crime and was later nicked for attempted murder. She was forced to leave the street after Jerry sold his takeaway business to Dev Alahan.
She returned in 2009 and despite Dev and her son Darryl trying to give her another shot at life on the cobbles, Teresa proved they’d been mistaken to trust her.
In May 2010, Teresa packed her bags and bid farewell to Coronation Street, feeling she had nothing left to cling onto.
Beyond Corrie, Karen played Cath Bolton in The Booze Cruise and in recent years, she has also featured in Vera, The Good Ship Murder, Passenger, and The Listeners.
In 2022, the actress starred in the Channel 5 drama The Teacher alongside Sheridan Smith.
Karen’s previous roles include appearances in Doctors, Heartbeat, and Shameless, and she even graced the stage in the National Theatre’s War Horse in 2013.
