
The EastEnders two-episode Christmas special served up a double dose of drama, which saw Nigel Bates return to Albert Square and Cindy Beale knocked out by an anonymous assailant with a shovel.
Nigel, played by Paul Bradley, returns to the soap after almost three decades away, having left in April 1998 with his adopted daughter Clare (Gemma Bissix), moving to Scotland to be with partner Julie Haye (Karen Henthorn) and her son, Josh Saunders (Jon Lee).