Nigel surprises Julie with trip to India - but events take a terrifying turn when he crashes his car next week

Nigel's surprise for Julie backfires
Joel Harley

Nigel Bates surprised Julie with a trip to India in EastEnders tonight (Thursday, October 16), after arranging to sell his beloved Morris Minor – ahead of a horrifying car crash next week. This came as Nigel tried to do something for his wife to thank her for all of her care and patience.

Nigel arranged to sell the car with Oscar Branning’s help, springing the surprise on Julie as she shared a drink with Jean in The Vic. Julie was thrilled, but is Nigel’s planned trip a good idea, given his ever-worsening dementia symptoms?

With a terrifying car crash looming next week, here’s everything that happened in EastEnders tonight.

Nigel smiling as he talks to Julie
Nigel announced his surprise in EastEnders tonight (Credit: BBC/Composite: EI)

Nigel planned a surprise in EastEnders tonight

Following yesterday’s events, Jean checked in with new pal Julie, arranging to meet a drink later. Meanwhile, Oscar told Nigel that he’d managed to talk Lauren up to £9000 for the sale of his beloved Morris Minor.

Later, Oscar arrived at Phil’s place to find it in complete disarray. Nigel had been searching for the keys, hoping to take the car out for one last spin.

Arriving on the scene, Julie was shocked to hear what Oscar and Nigel had planned. She revealed that she was holding onto the keys for safekeeping, and reminded him that he wasn’t able to drive, due to his condition.

At the pub, Nigel revealed his surprise to Julie – he was selling the car, to fund their trip to India.

Nigel confesses everything to Jack

Nigel tells Jack he thinks he might have crashed his car (Credit: BBC)

Nigel in car crash horror in EastEnders next week

Events take a shocking turn in EastEnders next week, when Nigel steals his car keys back from Julie. He’s dispirited when he accidentally damages the car, forcing Lauren to reduce the price.

However, they finalise the deal, and Nigel wants to take the car for one last spin. After an argument with Julie, he steals the keys back, and puts his plan into motion.

Nigel soon becomes overwhelmed when Julie calls while he’s behind the wheel – and crashes.

Julie takes control, telling Nigel that she had been driving the car. He’s suspicious though, and decides to do some digging of his own.

Convinced that he was responsible for crashing the car, Nigel tells Jack what happened. Jack accompanies Nigel down the station, where he admits to crashing the car.

How much trouble is Nigel in?

What else happened in EastEnders tonight?

As Nigel planned his surprise for Julie, Harry got an unpleasant one of his own - learning of Okie's successful date with Gina. Harry's latest torment came as his captivity continued, with Okie taking Gina out while Harry waited back at the flat, all chained up.

Elsewhere, Ross struggled as the residents of Walford shunned him, while Johnny found himself in hot water with his boss.

Here's everything else that happened in EastEnders tonight.

Okie tortured Harry

Still locked up at the flat, Harry was helpless to stop as Okie taunted him about his later date with Gina. Still, Okie left him with a little something to keep him occupied - more drugs.

At The Vic, Gina met up with Okie for their date. As they flirted over drinks, Gina pushed him for information on his family and past, but he wasn't forthcoming. Opening up about his father, he revealed how he'd been killed when Okie was just a child, leading to his mother's mental collapse.

As they left The Vic, Gina and Okie went their separate ways. As she filled Anna in afterwards, Gina revealed her suspicion that something was seriously amiss.

Meanwhile, at the flat, Okie continued to taunt Harry over his date with Gina - implying that he'd sealed the deal. "I swear," snarled Harry, "I'm going to kill you."

"No-one's coming for you," replied Okie. "Not your family, not Gina. No-one's going to miss you when you're gone."

Ross hit a new low

Having been kicked out by Vicki, Ross was looking to his bleak, Vicki-less future. Seeing the plight of a fellow deadbeat dad in distress, Harvey felt sympathetic, and offered a kind word. Ross was in a bad way, drinking beers on the bench in the morning, trying to pass on a message of support to his son.

With Vicki on the mend, Sharon and Kathy were keen to get her away from it all. Sharon had arranged for a trip to the Lake District, away from Walford, Ross and Joel.

Harvey shared insight into his relationship with his own son, and reassured that it'd all come out in the wash. He offered Ross a place to stay, which Ross - who'd spent the night sleeping rough - gratefully accepted.

This didn't exactly go down well with Ian and Kathy though. Ian quickly gave Ross his marching orders, unceremoniously dumping his clothes all over the pavement while Vicki and the rest of the Square looked on.

As everyone stared, judging, Ross revealed that he'd been the one who shopped Joel to the police, before launching into a lengthy and emotional tirade. "I did everything I could," he insisted. "I can't give up on Joel."

This wasn't enough for Kathy, though, who called out his continued protection of Joel and his cover-up of the things he'd done in the past. "Whatever you did Ross, it wasn't enough," she announced.

In the aftermath of the argument, Ian twisted the knife, reminding Harvey whose house he was staying with. Having had enough, Harvey snapped, reminding Ian of a certain Bobby Beale and how he'd once murdered Ian's own daughter.

Ross, meanwhile, continued to sink into a pit of despair. As Vicki headed off to her trip to the Peak District, Ross drank himself into an utter state. where he was found, collapsed, bleeding and covered in his own vomit by Anthony and Harvey.

Relenting, Ian allowed Ross to stay at the house while Vicki, Sharon and Kathy were away.

Johnny's in trouble

Johnny had dropped himself in it, having sent an e-mail to all his contacts, outlining a new business proposal. Needless to say, Johnny's boss wasn't impressed, and fired him. Ouch.

Also in EastEnders tonight

As they discussed recent events, Kat tried to defend Tommy against Penny's aspersions.

Meanwhile, seeing Oscar's caring attitude toward Nigel, Jasmine was touched - and took him up on his offer of a date to the cinema.

Read more: Who’s leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders? Complete list of cast exits, arrivals and returns.