EastEnders’ dementia storyline shaped by writer’s experiences
At Christmas millions of EastEnders fans watched Phil Mitchell’s childhood friend struggle with the impact of early-onset dementia.
Nigel Bates, played by Paul Bradley, was diagnosed with the condition last January and the climax of the powerful storyline compelled a pair of retired stalwarts from the BBC soap to return.
Pam St Clement, who played Pat Butcher for more than two decades, and Shaun Williamson, who was Barry Evans for 30 years, returned to The Vic when Nigel was visited by the ghosts of Christmas past as his mind mixed up memories with events in the present.
What audiences will not realise, however, is that the story was informed by the formative years of one of its script editors, working with the charity Kissing it Better.
Sophie Samuda is the daughter of its founder, Jill Fraser, and was an instrumental part of its launch in 2009.