BBC Share By Joel Harley Dec 23 2025 By Joel Harley Dec 23 2025 Pat and Barry on EastEnders: who they were, how they died and what stars have been up to since leaving the soap Two icons return to EastEnders tonight Barry Evans Features Pam St Clement Pat Evans Shaun Williamson Share By Joel Harley Dec 23 2025 By Joel Harley Dec 23 2025 Tonight’s very special episode of EastEnders sees the return of Albert Square legends Pat and Barry Evans to the soap, as played by Pam St. Clement and Shaun Williamson. This comes as Nigel continues to suffer symptoms of his intensifying dementia – now confusing past with present, and partaking in conversations with non-existent spectres from his own past. This meant that Pat ‘returned’ to the soap last night – with Barry waiting in the wings as it continues tonight (Tuesday, December 23). But who were Pat and Barry, and how did they die? Pat briefly returned in 2016 (Credit: BBC) Pat Evans on EastEnders: Rivalry with Peggy Mitchell, affair with Frank Butcher and sad death One of EastEnders’ all-time greatest characters, Pat Evans (originally Harris) was a major character on the soap from her debut episode in June 1986. The mother of David and Simon Wicks, Pat first arrived in Walford to tell ex-husband Pete Beale that he was not the father of their son, Simon. Sticking around after that, she continued to set the cat among the pigeons by turning (back) to prostitution, and later reuniting with her first – and fiercest – love, Frank Butcher. Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers In her time on Albert Square, Pat would come to be remembered for her explosive romance(s) with Frank, her rivalry with long-time frenemy Peggy Mitchell, and her 2006 fling with Patrick Trueman. After the apparent death of Frank, Pat met and married, car dealer Roy Evans. This became complicated by the return of Frank – who’d faked his death as part of a property scam – and their subsequent affair. In 2003, tragedy struck when Roy suffered a fatal heart attack. Frank died for real a few years later, in 2008, as Pat and Peggy settled their differences to support each other. After suffering a heart attack of her own in 2010, doctors diagnosed Pat with terminal cancer of the pancreas in 2011. She passed away on New Year’s Day 2012, surrounded by friends, family… and a typically horrible Derek Branning. Barry met his tragic end in 2004 (Credit: BBC) Barry Evans: fraud victim and tragic demise Barry Evans was the terminally unlucky-in-love son of Roy, and Pat’s stepson. First appearing in 1994, blundering Barry initially managed Roy’s car business – only to ruin his dad’s retirement by falling for conwoman Vanessa Carlton, and losing all of their money. Barry married Natalie Price on New Year’s Eve in 1999, giving birth to their son Jack in early 2002. However, their marriage had collapsed by 2003, and she left Walford in the wake of an affair with old flame Ricky Butcher. He moved on to a relationship with Janine Butcher – unaware that she was only interested him in his inheritance. Thinking that Barry was dying, she agreed to marry him for the money, but was left horrified when he revealed that he wasn’t actually dying. One push from a cliff later, and Barry was dead. He should have worn slip-on shoes. Pat and Barry are both back in EastEnders tonight (Credit: BBC) What have Pat and Barry stars Pam St. Clement and Shaun Williamson been up to since leaving EastEnders? Pam and Shaun have both been busy since leaving EastEnders. Pam previously reprised the role of Pat in 2016, appearing to old pal Peggy as she died of breast cancer. As for Shaun, he appeared in the Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant sitcoms Extras and Life’s Too Short – where he poked fun at his ‘Barry from EastEnders’ persona. He’s also a prolific quizzer, taking home the jackpot on celebrity versions of Mastermind, The Chase, and Pointless. Read more: Who’s leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders? Complete list of cast exits, arrivals and returns. Share Good to Know Share By Joel Harley Dec 23 2025 By Joel Harley Dec 23 2025 Previous Story Next Story
