EastEnders legend unrecognisable 25 years after shock soap exit as ‘loveable loser’ Nigel Bates
BUMBLING Nigel Bates was one of the best-loved characters on EastEnders during the 90s, but actor Paul Bradley looks very different now.
Paul was known to millions for playing Albert Square’s lovable loser and also Dr Elliot Hopy in Holby.
Fans of EastEnders will remember Nigel for his obsession with flamboyant shirts and his dark curly hair.
And he was best pals with Walford hardman Grant Mitchell.
The pair enjoyed a random bromance as Nigel, who worked in the video shop, was soft hearted, and Grant was the complete opposite.
Nigel also got on well with Dot Cotton who thought of him as the good son she never had, which meant her own child Nick Cotton hated him.
Nigel was married to Debbie Bates, and they adopted a daughter, Clare, but things ended in disaster when he fell in love with their daughter’s teacher.
The couple fled to Scotland a year later and never returned.
Paul was on the Square between 1992 and 1998.
Since leaving the show he’s gone on to star in Holby, Doctors, My Family, Casualty.
Paul paid a kind tribute last year to his former co-star June Brown who played Dot.
He wrote on Twitter after the soap icon’s death: “My first day with her, June said ‘do you know it dear?’ in make-up. ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Good let’s run through it.’
“She read as we walked to set.
“Once there she was word perfect. Detail and truthfulness were her watchwords and she was so funny. R. I.P wonderful June.”