The BBC has confirmed that S Club star Jon Lee will make his return to EastEnders alongside actress Gemma Bissix for the funeral of beloved character Nigel Bates.
The announcement comes after Nigel, portrayed by Paul Bradley, passed away in moving scenes broadcast on Wednesday evening following a storyline centred on his early-onset dementia diagnosis.
Mr Lee will reprise his role as Josh Saunders, whilst Ms Bissix returns as Clare Bates for the emotional send-off.
Nigel first graced Albert Square in 1992 before departing six years later, with the character making his comeback to Walford in 2024.
EastEnders' heartbreaking Nigel Bates storyline recently concluded
|BBC
His final scenes saw him surrounded by loved ones including wife Julie, Phil Mitchell and Grant Mitchell at a care facility.
The funeral episode is scheduled to air on May 20.
Mr Lee, now 44, originally appeared in the BBC soap as a teenager in 1997, featuring in 20 episodes as Josh Saunders, the son of Nigel's ex-wife Julie.
His time on the show proved brief, as he departed to join pop group S Club 7 shortly afterwards.
Jon Lee found fame in the late 90s with S Club 7
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The band went on to dominate the charts throughout the late nineties and early noughties, achieving number one hits with their debut Bring It All Back, Reach and the Children In Need single Never Had A Dream Come True.
Following the group's 2003 split after Paul Cattermole's departure, they reunited on multiple occasions, most recently for a tribute tour after Mr Cattermole's death in 2023.
Mr Lee has since appeared on various television programmes including Casualty, Celebrity Mastermind and last year's Celebs Go Dating.
Ms Bissix, who portrayed Clare Bates on the long-running soap, made a brief appearance earlier this year as part of the dementia storyline before Nigel's death.
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Jon Lee starred in EastEnders as a teenager in 1997
|BBC
Her latest return will see Clare attending her stepfather's funeral alongside other family members gathering in Walford.
Speaking about coming back to the show, Ms Bissix said: "When I returned earlier this year, we always knew Clare had to come back for Nigel's funeral.
"He meant so much to her, and it felt right to be there for the conclusion of his story, as everyone came together to say their final goodbyes."
The actress will be reunited on screen with Karen Henthorn, who plays Julie Bates, as the family comes together to bid farewell to the much-loved character.
Jon Lee inn 2000
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Mr Lee reflected on the experience of stepping back onto the famous set after such a lengthy absence.
"It was quite surreal stepping back on to Albert Square after so many years as it's so familiar to so many of us," he told The Sun. "It was lovely to see my onscreen family again."
The singer will be reunited with his on-screen mother Julie, played by Karen Henthorn, who has been caring for Nigel alongside his closest friend Phil Mitchell throughout the dementia storyline.
S Club 7 disbanded in 2003 but have come together several times since, with their most recent reunion being a tribute tour held following the death of bandmate Mr Cattermole in 2023.