As Nigel goes missing, tomorrow sees a devastating episode dedicated entirely to his dementia battle
There won't be a dry eye in Walford tomorrow...
Clare Bates made a dramatic return to EastEnders today, but her reunion with stepdad Nigel didn’t go to plan when he didn’t recognise her before going missing.
However, there is more heartache to come when Nigel moves into his care home tomorrow in a very special standalone episode focusing on the next chapter in his dementia storyline.
EastEnders: Nigel got upset when he didn’t know who Clare was
Clare returned to Albert Square after hearing Julie’s voicemail, but it soon became apparent there was no love lost between the two women. As the pair argued over Nigel, Phil warned there couldn’t be any drama when they went to the hospital.
But it turned out that a tiff with Julie was the least of Clare’s worries. Shocked at how much Nigel had changed, Clare braced herself to reconnect with her stepdad. But when Nigel didn’t recognise her and got angry, Clare was devastated.
With his mind now firmly stuck in the past, Nigel thought that Lexi was Clare, leaving his stepdaughter upset at how bad things had got.
Julie and Clare finally aired their true feelings
The truth about why Clare and Julie don’t get on was finally revealed during a heart-to-heart outside the hospital.
Julie accused Clare of stealing Debbie’s wedding ring last time she visited Nigel and pawning it for money. Julie said it was the last thing that Nigel had of his late wife’s, and that he had to spend a fortune buying it back from the pawnbrokers.
Clare seemed remorseful, but told Julie that she knew she didn’t like her – mainly because she reminded her of Debbie, the love of Nigel’s life.
Julie said she would never forgive Clare for being a bad stepdaughter, but that Nigel would if she only tried to make amends.
Nigel went missing in EastEnders
Later, Lexi talked to Clare. She told her about losing her mum, Lola, when she was only 10 years old. The same age Clare was when her mum, Debbie, died.
Lexi told Clare she would do anything for one more day with her mum. She then pointed out Clare should make up with Nigel while she still could.
Lexi showed Clare the video that Lola filmed before she died, and Clare resolved to put things right.
But later, when Phil and Julie arrived to take Nigel to his care home, they were stunned to find he had gone missing.
The drama continues tomorrow for missing Nigel in EastEnders
Tomorrow’s EastEnders sees a very special episode dedicated entirely to Nigel. His next big step will play out as Julie and Phil take him to his care home.
After Julie and Phil track missing Nigel down in EastEnders, they are shocked to see Clare has organised a party for her stepdad.
Walford residents gather to say their emotional goodbyes to Nigel. But Julie and Clare clash once again over what is best for him.
Thankfully, Clare’s old friend Chelsea is on hand to defuse the drama between the warring women. Meanwhile, Yolande supports Julie as they prepare to take Nigel to the home.
As they get Nigel settled into his new surroundings, the enormity of what is happening hits everyone hard. Will Nigel be okay?
Love Is Blind's Jessica is the same size as Bri and here's the proof after Chris' body-shaming
Viewers were left fuming after watching Chris Fusco body-shame Jessica in this week's episodes of the Netflix show.
Jessica broke down in tears as Chris brutally told her he wanted a wife who "does [bleep-ing] pilates every day."
Rallying round Jessica, who has rightly dumped Chris as a result, fans have now found the evidence that he is "gas-lighting" everyone.
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Love Is Blind fans have proved Jessica Barrett is the same size as Bri McNees after she was body-shamed by Chris Fusco (Credit: Netflix)[/caption]
Love Is Blind fans insist Jessica and Bri are same size
One armchair sleuth has trawled through the latest Love Is Blind footage and found images of Jessica and Bri in near-identical black swimsuits.
Sharing the snaps on Reddit, they said: "Am I taking crazy pills? How is Chris going on about his pilates teeny weeny princess type and how Bri fits that type better?
"Bri and Jess' bodies look identical. They're both healthy and attractive women. The only difference is maybe Bri's a little taller. Not only did he gaslight Jess but now he's gaslighting us.
"Where does this man get the audacity? Lock him up at once."
Replying, someone else said: "I can’t believe he would use her body as a scapegoat on national TV. Why did he choose to humiliate her like this? The world has EYEBALLS we can see that she’s literally so healthy."
A third chimed in: "I was thinking the same thing. They're both lovely with great bodies. He's insane."
And someone else added: "I'm not comparing these two women as they’re both gorgeous. They're also both very similar bodies. Chris is a moron."
Love Is Blind's Chris and Jessica split
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Love Is Blind's Chris has split with Jessica Barrett after making cruel digs about her body (Credit: Netflix)[/caption]
Chris and Jessica's split plays out in the latest instalment of Love Is Blind episodes, which dropped on Netflix on Wednesday.
The couples are back from Cabo in Mexico and return to normal life. They also begin meeting their new in-laws for the first time.
Things appear to be going well for Chris and Jessica until he lands a sucker punch during a chat on the sofa one evening.
He asks his fiancée if she thinks they "have a good physical connection". Jessica says she does.
But Chris tells her: "In my world I date people who do [bleep-ing] CrossFit and [bleep]. So like I'm trying to, I don't know, somebody who works out all the time and has a different type of..."
Jessica asks: "A different type of body?"
Chris continues: "Somebody who does [bleep-ing] pilates every day or working out every day. In these situations, it's hard for me to be physically in that moment. I just don't know if it's there for me."
Jessica started crying. But it just got worse.
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Jessica said her 'mind was blown' that Chris had even made his comments to her (Credit: Netflix)[/caption]
Jessica 'extremely hurt' by Chris' words
Chris went on to tell Jessica he had spent several days "thinking about his number 2 person". He didn't name her, but viewers know this is Bri.
"All of these things are really hard to hear," Jessica told him.
Weirdly, Chris said he wants to "figure it out", as they have "fun together".
But she hits back: "I feel really stupid. The fact that me not working out everyday is even a sentence that came up in this conversation is even blowing my mind.
"I just work at the hospital every day. I was very upfront about this. There was no illusion that I would be going to pilates everyday. It makes me feel [bleep] too."
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She adds: "If my body isn't going to be good enough for you, I'm never going to be like, 'Please still love me'. That's not what I'm here for."
Jessica tells Chris she is going home, packs her bags leaves.
Sitting next to her suitcase, she says to the cameras: "Love was absolutely blind for me. I was madly in love with Chris but with him doing this complete 180 and feeling like a different person, I could never look at him the same.
"I'm extremely disappointed and extremely hurt. But I have a wonderful life and don't want to be with someone unless they make it better."
Chris. meanwhile, harshly said: "I get it. When you're 90 years old, not everyone is going to look good. But I'm not 90."
Red flags, or what?!
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Chris is now trying to steal Bri from Connor (Credit: Netflix)[/caption]
Chris slides into Bri's DMs
At the end of episode 9, the entire group of Love Is Blind stars meet for a night of drinks and skittles.
Jessica arrives and, showing their support, the girls all shout: "You look amazing! God, your body is so perfect! Have you been working out?!"
But by the end of the show, it's revealed Chris slid into Bri's LinkedIn DMs following his break-up with Jessica. He then pulls her to one side for a chat at the bar.
Chris tells Bri that her man, Connor Spies, is "submissive", adding: "I saw you and was like, that is the girl I would literally propose to."
We now have an entire week to wait to find out how Bri reacts.
Read more: Love Is Blind's Alex Henderson unrecognisable in throwback photo from university soccer days
