After 21 years away from Albert Square, Barry is back—at least in spirit.

In a twist few saw coming, EastEnders fan favorite Shaun Williamson has returned to the iconic soap more than two decades after his character, Barry Evans, met a tragic end at the hands of Janine Butcher. But don’t worry—this isn’t a resurrection storyline. Instead, Barry will appear in a poignant vision sequence linked to dementia sufferer Nigel Bates, played by returning actor Paul Bradley.

A Personal Story Behind the Scenes

Speaking to The Sun, Shaun admitted he was “shocked” by the offer to return. “I never thought I’d be asked,” he said. “But I was genuinely thrilled.” The storyline struck a deeply personal chord for the actor, whose mother passed away in 2022 after battling dementia. “It felt incredibly personal for me,” he said. “That’s why I thought returning was such a great idea, and why the story hit me so deeply.”

Williamson revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic was especially hard on his mother due to the isolation it caused. “We did everything we could as a family,” he said, “but she then suffered a stroke, and we lost her. She was 87. It was heartbreaking.”

Now, by returning as Barry in a dream-like sequence, Shaun hopes to bring awareness to the disease. “In 30 to 40 years’ time it’s predicted that dementia cases will have doubled,” he said. “That’s a frightening thought.”

A Return That Respects the Past

Longtime fans will recall that Barry Evans met a brutal fate in 2004 when Janine pushed him off a cliff. Since then, Shaun’s return has always seemed like an impossibility—until now. “You can’t bring Barry back from the dead,” Shaun joked. “Janine had him cremated in Scotland. Pat brought the ashes back. It would just be ridiculous.”

Still, the way EastEnders brought him back felt authentic. “It’s credible,” he said. “It’s in an empty pub but, in Nigel’s mind, it’s full of his old mates and there’s karaoke going on. It’s beautifully written.”

A Touching Reunion on Set

Alongside Pat Butcher (played by Pam St Clement) and Nigel’s ex-wife Debbie (Nicola Duffett), Barry will appear as part of Nigel’s fading but joyful memories—a reminder of simpler, happier times. Shaun described the shoot as a moving reunion. “It was just great to be back working with these fabulous actors again.”

As for returning to Walford, Shaun admitted he got lost trying to find the studio—something fans would surely forgive. “I was late,” he laughed, “but as soon as I stepped on the set of The Queen Vic, it was magic. Like I’d never been away.”