EastEnders spoilers follow for Tuesday’s episode (24 June), which is available to watch now on streaming service BBC iPlayer and hasn’t yet aired on TV.
Note: This article contains discussion of topics including suicide.
EastEnders’ Phil Mitchell has been left with a big decision to make about Nigel Bates – and considers calling on a familiar face.
Phil is currently the sole carer for Nigel, who has young on-set dementia, but as his condition worsens, the stress of looking after his best friend is beginning to take its toll.
Ex-wife Kat grew concerned after she discovered that Phil had burned his arm in a dangerous incident in the kitchen involving Nigel.
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But Phil told Kat about Nigel’s previous plan to take his own life and made it clear that caring for Nigel had saved him after his own suicide attempt earlier this year.
Kat continued to worry about her former husband in today’s episode – though was offended when Jean questioned why she was spending so much time with Phil.
Meanwhile, Phil began to get frustrated with his friend’s forgetfulness and wasn’t pleased when Nigel accidentally knocked over a picture of Peggy.
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Kat suggested that Phil brings in someone to help or sorts out weekly respite for Nigel, but he insisted that he would continue to do things on his own.
Lexi later came round and Nigel helped her to write a story about her mum for school. But Nigel ended up talking about his own past and became distressed while looking at photos of his late wife Debbie and his estranged wife Julie.
In the Square, Nigel confused Lexi for his daughter Clare and told her that her mum had died in an accident – in a chilling recreation of how he told Clare about Debbie’s death almost exactly 30 years ago.
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As Phil managed to diffuse the situation, Kat intervened again and told him that looking after Nigel was killing him. She said that if he wasn’t careful, his own mental health might soon decline again.
Kat urged Phil to call Julie and tell him about her husband’s dementia, arguing that Nigel wasn’t able to make his own decisions anymore.
Will Phil go against Nigel’s wishes and reach out to Julie?
EastEnders airs on Mondays – Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage
We encourage anyone who identifies with the topics raised in this article to reach out. Information about how to access support is available via the NHS, and organisations who can offer help include Samaritans on 116 123 or Mind on 0300 123 3393.
Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.