As EastEnders gears up for one of its most emotional Christmas specials in years, long-time viewers are demanding the return of a beloved character—Debbie Bates. Though she died tragically nearly three decades ago, her presence continues to haunt the hearts of fans. Now, with her husband Nigel back in Walford and battling dementia, audiences are asking: is it finally time for Debbie to come home, if only in memory?

A Christmas of Ghosts and Grief

Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) returned to EastEnders in December 2024 in heartbreaking scenes that revealed his early-onset dementia diagnosis. Long absent from the Square since his departure in 1998 with second wife Julie Haye, Nigel’s reappearance is already stirring up past traumas and tender nostalgia.

The BBC has confirmed that next month’s episode will take Nigel—and viewers—on a journey back to the early 1990s as his mind slips into fragmented memories. Viewers will see the return of iconic figures like Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement) and Barry Evans (Shaun Williamson). But fans are now pleading for one more familiar face: Debbie.

Debbie Bates: A Love Lost Too Soon

Debbie Bates, portrayed by Nicola Duffett, was a core part of EastEnders in the early ’90s. Her on-screen marriage to Nigel and their shared parenting of daughter Clare offered a touching portrait of domestic warmth.

Tragically, Debbie’s time in Walford was short-lived. In 1995, she was killed in a road accident—an event that devastated Nigel and shifted the course of his storyline. He eventually found love again with Clare’s teacher, Julie, and the couple moved to Scotland.

But even decades later, the shadow of Debbie’s death lingers. With Nigel’s mental decline central to his comeback, fans have taken to social media with calls for Duffett to reprise the role—at least in a dream or hallucination.

Where Is Nicola Duffett Now?

Nicola Duffett, now 62, rose to fame after a role in the Oscar-winning Howards End (1992) and later cemented her TV credentials on EastEnders. After leaving the soap, she starred as Cat Matthews in Channel 5’s Family Affairs from 1998 to 2005. That role brought her financial success—luxury holidays, designer shopping, and fine dining became routine.

But when Family Affairs was cancelled in 2005, the work dried up. Nicola fell into financial hardship, was declared bankrupt in 2007, and spoke openly about struggling to adjust to life without a steady acting income.

“I just went into a bad place when they axed Family Affairs,” she told the Croydon Advertiser. “I wish I had learned to save. But I love picking up a bargain now—it’s more satisfying than just paying the bill at a posh restaurant.”

A Quiet Comeback in Recent Years

Despite her financial struggles, Nicola slowly rebuilt her career with supporting roles in Waterloo Road, The Coroner, Endeavour, and Murder, They Hope. She appeared in Coronation Street in 2020 as Lucie Fernsby and starred in Amazon Prime’s Agatha Raisin in 2022.

Her versatile performances have kept her name alive—and now, fans want to see her back where it all began.

Could Nicola Duffett return as Debbie, if only in Nigel’s fractured mind? With EastEnders embracing memory, loss, and legacy this holiday season, a ghostly cameo from Debbie Bates could offer closure—not just for Nigel, but for a generation of fans still mourning her loss.

Would you welcome Debbie Bates back to Albert Square, even for one final goodbye?