{"id":566287,"date":"2025-11-12T21:53:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T21:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/566287\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T21:53:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T21:53:15","slug":"eastenders-sets-up-new-christmas-storyline-as-poignant-nigel-project-begins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/566287\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders sets up new Christmas storyline as poignant Nigel project begins"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"1\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"1.0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"EastEnders spoilers\" data-node-id=\"1.0.0\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">EastEnders spoilers<\/a> follow for the latest episode to air on BBC One and stream on iPlayer.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"4\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">EastEnders has confirmed one of its Christmas storylines for this year \u2014 and it looks like it&#8217;s going to bring some festive cheer to our screens (we hope so anyway, as Walford is famous for its grisly Decembers). Tonight&#8217;s episode started with Lexi Mitchell popping over to see Nigel, Julie and Phil with some exciting news. She had read Nigel&#8217;s old script for a film called Santa Claws, loved it, and decided it would be fun to make it into a little film.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"6\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;All we need is [my phone camera], and a savvy young director. I&#8217;ve done a list of some potential local cast members. Gonna get some mates involved, hair and make-up, stuff like that. It&#8217;s all go!&#8221; she said enthusiastically.<\/p>\n<p>What to Read Next<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"10\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Julie seemed keen on the idea, thinking it was a good distraction from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69315335\/eastenders-confirms-nigel-court-outcome-dementia\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69315335\/eastenders-confirms-nigel-court-outcome-dementia\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"everything else going on right now\" data-node-id=\"10.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">everything else going on right now<\/a>, but film-buff Nigel snapped and walked out.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"12\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Worried about his upcoming court hearing, Nigel made his way to the laundrette where he confused the woman working there for Dot Branning (or &#8220;Mrs C&#8221; as he calls her). Kim Fox walked in and shared her own ideas for the film: namely, casting her in it.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"14\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;You need someone to hit the comedy highs and get the men rubbing on their thighs,&#8221; she pitched.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"eastenders, nigel bates and lexi mitchell in the kitchenm when lexi holding a script in her hand\" title=\"EastEnders, Nigel Bates and Lexi Mitchell\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2115\" height=\"1190\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/eastenders-nigel-and-lexi-6914e17082eac.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>BBC<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"17\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"17.0\">Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a46265799\/best-film-tv-tours-2024\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a46265799\/best-film-tv-tours-2024\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Best film and TV tours for 2025\" data-node-id=\"17.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong data-node-id=\"17.1.0\">Best film and TV tours for 2025<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"19\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;Look, there is no film. It&#8217;s just a shoddy script I wrote years ago that means nothing. So you can and Lexi can just forget about it. I know I will soon enough,&#8221; Nigel insisted.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"21\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">But Kim told him she thought the script was really good and that he should change his mind.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"23\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Back at home, Nigel gave the script another read and told Phil he too thought it was pretty good. But, sadly, he shared he doesn&#8217;t remember writing it.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"25\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;I&#8217;m not the same person who wrote this anymore. There&#8217;s no fire. No hope. I&#8217;m nothing,&#8221; he admitted.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"eastenders, nigel bates and phil mitchell sitting down with nigel looking sad\" title=\"EastEnders, Nigel Bates and Phil Mitchell\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2115\" height=\"1190\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/eastenders-nigel-and-phil-6914e0aa7b88b.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>BBC<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"28\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"28.0\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69406329\/eastenders-laura-doddington-one-year-anniversary\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69406329\/eastenders-laura-doddington-one-year-anniversary\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"EastEnders star celebrates huge soap milestone amid dramatic Mitchell storyline\" data-node-id=\"28.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">EastEnders star celebrates huge soap milestone amid dramatic Mitchell storyline<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"30\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The ever-practical Phil told him that didn&#8217;t matter. He pointed out that it was already written and he doesn&#8217;t need to change the script, just work on bringing it to life.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"32\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Kim and Phil&#8217;s words got through to him and Nigel told Lexi that the Santa Claws film project is back on. Julie was on board to help out, and Kim would probably play the role of Second Police Officer.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"34\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Could the creation of the film be a fun Christmas story <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69299568\/eastenders-sam-mitchell-huge-christmas-revenge-plot\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69299568\/eastenders-sam-mitchell-huge-christmas-revenge-plot\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"amid all the drama\" data-node-id=\"34.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">amid all the drama<\/a> with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69309196\/eastenders-spoilers-max-branning-christmas-return-fight\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a69309196\/eastenders-spoilers-max-branning-christmas-return-fight\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"returning characters\" data-node-id=\"34.3\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"noopener\">returning characters<\/a>? Or will it end in sadness on the Square?<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"36\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"36.0\">EastEnders<\/strong><strong data-node-id=\"36.1\"> 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. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"38\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"http:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage\" data-node-id=\"38.0\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong data-node-id=\"38.0.0\">Read more <\/strong><strong data-node-id=\"38.0.1\">EastEnders<\/strong><strong data-node-id=\"38.0.2\"> spoilers on our dedicated homepage<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"41\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"41.0\">The new edition of <\/strong><strong data-node-id=\"41.1\">Living Legends<\/strong><strong data-node-id=\"41.2\"> is here! <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/special-editions-subscriptions-lvgwitchesariana\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/special-editions-subscriptions-lvgwitchesariana\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Buy Ariana &amp; Witches in newsagents or online\" data-node-id=\"41.3\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong data-node-id=\"41.3.0\">Buy <\/strong><strong data-node-id=\"41.3.1\">Ariana &amp; Witches<\/strong><strong data-node-id=\"41.3.2\"> in newsagents or online<\/strong><\/a><strong data-node-id=\"41.4\">, priced at just \u00a38.99.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"EastEnders spoilers follow for the latest episode to air on BBC One and stream on iPlayer. EastEnders has&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":566288,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3937],"tags":[1380,180031,1331,77,1330,180030,382,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-566287","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tv","8":"tag-content-type-news","9":"tag-contentid-b8ee9355-c13b-469f-b323-d414b8b659ab","10":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-locale-gb","13":"tag-shorttitle-eastenders-sets-up-new-christmas-storyline","14":"tag-tv","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115538953238300470","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/566287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=566287"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/566287\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/566288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=566287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=566287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=566287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}