Interview with Paul Bradley
Paul, Nigel Bates has been in your life on and off for 34 years, and this week his story sadly comes to an end when Nigel loses his battle with dementia. What has it been like to return to the character of Nigel to play this incredibly important storyline for the past 16 months?
It’s been an absolute privilege to return for a storyline that unfortunately is such a resonant subject for the viewers, but undoubtedly an important storyline to tell and raise awareness of. Returning to the set, and cast, has been amazing and it’s been a rollercoaster. The fact that Steve is still there, and that I could work with him again was fantastic. There is mutual admiration there, and so it was great being asked back, and a privilege to tell this story.
How did you react when you received the scripts for your final week on screen?
It’s very moving, and for such a heartbreaking subject matter, it’s a very beautiful ending. It’s difficult to describe without giving too much away, but the story has found a way to reconcile a lot of the loose ends in the various relationships Nigel has, and end on a hopeful and positive note. I think it’s a great piece of writing to be able to do that when it’s such a serious subject matter. EastEnders has always had this tradition of dealing with difficult subjects and really investigating them and presenting them in a responsible way, and that’s what I have felt with all of the scripts.
With regards to the final scripts, I’ll be as the viewers are, watching and being moved. It’s been great playing the character, but it’s almost been like playing two or three characters, because we’ve gradually gone on this journey with Nigel, and by the end, he is a very different person to the character he was when he initially returned. Of course, this is what family, and friends of people living with dementia find very difficult to come to terms with as they call it ‘the long goodbye’. Unlike other shows, with a continuing drama like EastEnders, we’ve been able to echo the gradual worsening of Nigel’s symptoms to tell his story in real time, which is heartbreaking, but hopefully truthful to those watching at home who resonate with it.
The storyline has had such a profound impact on the viewers. Why do you think this is, and what has the reaction been like for you from the viewers?
I always think as an actor in EastEnders, when you’re playing an important storyline like Nigel’s dementia, you have an obligation and a responsibility to the audience to tell it as truthfully as you can. We’ve also seen Nigel’s storyline through many different character lenses, and EastEnders’ dedication, and all three actors’ dedication to the storyline across its entirety is something that people at home have responded to. I was in Cork and a woman came up to me and said, “thank you, what you’re all doing is really important.”
I think it’s a hard watch, but many, many people have friends and relatives who are either going through this, or they know someone who is caring for someone who is going through this, and hopefully it shows that world how hard it can be, but also how joyous it can be at times. The directors and producers also gave us the space to bring our own emotions to it, and our own research. It was important that we showed all aspects of dementia, and I know Dementia UK worked very closely with the team to ensure that.
EastEnders worked closely with Dementia UK on the storyline and scripts. Outside of this, did you also do your own research?
Yes, absolutely. It’s part of the job. One of the bits of acting I really enjoy is the research. The research is vital because it’s the detail and the belief that people respond to. I read a book which was written by a woman with dementia and that was fascinating as there was so much I didn’t know. For example, some people with dementia can experience hallucinations, as we demonstrated that with Pat and Barry’s returns.
The writer described her hallucinations as positive and said that you had to embrace some of the aspects of the illness when they are out of your control. You can experience it in dreams, when you feel like a loved one is vividly there, and the writer said it was one of the joys of the illness, as hallucinating gave her the feeling of being with that loved one. So, I took that on board and tried to use that in my portrayal of those scenes.
I imagine a lot of the emotion on set was real considering the close bond you share with Steve and Karen. How has it been working alongside them both on this storyline?
Steve and Karen are phenomenal. When Phil told Nigel he couldn’t care for him anymore, I found it really difficult not to cry during filming. There is a lot of emotion in a soap, so you have to be responsible about it. The three of us really tried to bring that to every scene, and it’s some of the best work I’ve done, and something I’m incredibly proud of because of the care and dedication we’ve all bought to it. There was a real chemistry between the three of us because we get on so well, and we looked out for each other throughout.
I think the viewers recognise that there was something special going on. If you invest in it, you go through it emotionally. We’ve seen Nigel gradually decline, but we’ve also seen Phil stand up, so you emotionally go through the process of people who are actually going through this, and I think soaps have a lot of power in that respect. If the story only brings to attention the dedication of the people who care for a loved one with dementia, then I think it’s done a great job.
The viewers quickly fell in love with Nigel and Phil’s friendship, and it’s clear that they have both been each other’s rock during this difficult storyline. How would you describe Nigel and Phil’s long-standing friendship?
They reunited during a crisis point for each of their characters. When Phil was at his lowest, Nigel admitted to him that he had dementia, and they made a pledge that they would look after each other, and I think that’s so moving to have someone in your life who will say to you unconditionally that they are going to be there for you. That’s why it’s quite a surprise when Phil gets to a point where he hasn’t been able to see Nigel anymore, but I think it’s the emotional intensity of it all.
The dementia storyline has also seen the return of other famous Walford faces – Pam St Clement, Shaun Williamson, Nicola Duffet, Gemma Bissix, and this week Ross Kemp. What has it been like to reconnect with those familiar faces, and to work alongside them as part of Nigel’s story?
It was so weird because Ross hasn’t changed in his appearance in all these years, so, when I saw him at first, it was like ‘what is time?’ It’s been almost 30 years, and it felt like it was yesterday, and you pick up right back where you left off. The great thing is when you work with people you’ve worked with before, you can look into their eyes and the emotion can be a lot more immediate, truthful and interesting, and you can try out different things within scenes because there is already that mutual trust.
You burst onto our screens as Nigel Bates back in 1992, and you’ve had some amazing storylines during your time on the show. What are some of your favourite storyline moments over your entire duration in the show?
I remember working with June Brown; it was just so fantastic. June had done a lot of theatre work before. June was a great education because she was totally dedicated to the show and knew her character inside out. In my first scene with June, Nigel was looking for somewhere to stay, and Dot had put an ad in the shop window, and she came over and said, “Are you clean” [Laughs]. “I’m not having you if you’re not clean”. That was a great relationship, because Nigel became the son that Dot had always wanted after Nasty Nick. One of the classics which we remembered in one of the later episodes was Ricky’s stag do, which was great. Then announcing to Clare that her mum had passed away. That was another emotional yet beautiful scenes because there were no words, and it was filmed in long shot whilst I was talking to her on a bench.
How was Nigel originally pitched to you in terms of character when you first joined, and how did you get the part?
I was only meant to be in it for a couple of episodes, and they gave me this suit, which was flashy, and I thought, oh right, they see him as this sort of ‘flash Harry’ character. I used to live in Dalston on Ridley Road, and there was a man in the market who always dressed in a suit, wore a chain, and he walked in a certain way. I thought, well that’s Nigel. I then got asked back, and they wanted me to stay for a while, so I remember asking my wife whether I could commit to the time it required, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
You’ve been a fan favourite amongst viewers during your time in the show. What will you remember most about your time in EastEnders looking all the way back to 1992, and this current stint, and what will you miss the most?
Working with Steve and Karen again has been one of the highlights of my career, let alone my time at EastEnders, because the dedication, concentration and love that they’ve bought to the work is one of those enduring memories. It means we can look each other in the eyes in years to come, and without boasting, remember we did something special and that’s so rare. So, I’ll remember that.
The dedication across the board at EastEnders is phenomenal. We were doing a night shoot, and it was freezing cold, and in the scene, Nigel was on a stretcher. The costume department kept bringing me hot water bottles, extra blankets, and they were rubbing my feet because they weren’t covered, and it’s those sorts of acts of kindness and dedication that I’ll miss. I’ll miss the comradery. There is a great atmosphere at EastEnders, there is a great cast, and it’s a very warm, caring place to work.
Lastly, are there any keepsakes you’ve taken from set to remind you of Nigel Bates and your time in the show?
When I was first in EastEnders, they used to give you the brass plaque that was on your dressing room door, and I’ve kept that. I was going to put it on my dressing room this time, but I couldn’t find it, although of course I’ve found it now! [Laughs] I didn’t take anything, but one thing I do have which now sits in pride of place at home, and people won’t understand why until they’ve seen this week’s episodes, is a skimming stone. Steve gave it to me, and that’s a precious memory.
CT3
