Jon Lee says it was ‘surreal’ to return to EastEnders after almost 30 years

By Carla Feric, Press Association Entertainment Reporter

S Club star Jon Lee has said it was “surreal” to step back onto Albert Square and reunite with his “onscreen family”, as he returns to EastEnders after almost 30 years.

The singer and actor, 44, will be joined by actress Gemma Bissix as the two reunite for a short stint on the soap for the funeral of Nigel Bates, as the soap concludes its long-running dementia storyline.

Lee will reprise his role as Julie Bates’ son Josh Saunders when he returns to Walford for the funeral of his stepfather Nigel, who died in Wednesday’s episode after a battle with young onset dementia.

On his return, Lee said: “It was quite surreal stepping back on to Albert Square after so many years as it’s so familiar to so many of us. It was lovely to see my onscreen family again.”

Lee, who last appeared in the soap in 1998, is best known as part of chart-topping group S Club – formerly known as S Club 7 – who are famed for hits such as Don’t Stop Movin’, Reach and Bring It All Back.

He will be joined in Albert Square by Bissix, who recently returned to the soap after almost two decades away to reprise her role as Nigel’s estranged stepdaughter, Clare.

The 42-year-old actress 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.”

Bissix briefly made her return to the soap this spring after her character discovered that her stepfather, played by Paul Bradley, was experiencing worsening dementia symptoms.

In recent episodes, viewers have seen Nigel also suffering with pneumonia as part of a complication of his deteriorating health and, after stopping his end-of-life care, the character died during an emotional episode on Wednesday.

Bradley’s character returned to the long-running soap after 26 years on December 24th, 2024, and EastEnders has worked closely with Dementia UK for the ongoing storyline.

Bissix made her first appearance in Albert Square in 1993, as the daughter of Nigel’s first wife, Debbie Bates (Nicola Duffett), who was later killed off in a hit-and-run giving Nigel full custody of Clare.

In 1997, Karen Henthorn’s character Julie and her son Josh Saunders (Lee) made their first appearance in Walford.

The following year, Nigel and Julie started their romantic relationship and later left Walford with Josh and Clare, relocating to Scotland together.

EastEnders is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.