In a festive season defined by high-stakes drama and heartbreaking farewells, EastEnders has bid a permanent goodbye to one of its most enduring figures. Nicholas Bailey, who first graced Albert Square as Dr. Anthony Truman in the year 2000, has been written out of the long-running BBC soap in a shocking Christmas Day episode that saw the character meet a tragic and fatal end.

The departure marks the conclusion of a 25-year chapter for Bailey, whose intermittent portrayal of the soft-spoken physician made him a household name. Returning to Walford earlier this summer, Anthony’s storyline took a dark and complex turn as it was revealed he was the biological father of Zoe Slater’s twins—children given up for adoption nearly two decades ago. The revelation set the stage for a collision course between the two former lovers, culminating in the fatal confrontation that aired on Christmas Day.

A Holiday Horror

The festive episode took a grim turn when a fierce argument erupted between Zoe and Anthony. In the heat of the moment, a physical struggle led to Anthony falling and striking his head, leaving him unresponsive on the floor. Believing she had committed a terrible crime, a panicked Zoe surrendered to the authorities. However, the tragedy was layered with further manipulation; subsequent scenes revealed that the villainous Chrissy Watts had engineered the situation to frame Zoe for murder.

While the exact medical details of Anthony’s passing are still unfolding for viewers, Bailey has confirmed that this festive stint was his final appearance. Speaking on his departure, the actor expressed a mixture of pride and melancholy. “Securing a Christmas storyline is a milestone for any soap actor,” Bailey remarked, noting that exiting during the show’s most-watched period made the moment especially meaningful. He praised the writing team for exceeding his expectations, stating that the dramatic direction offered him “far more to explore as a performer” than ever before.

Reflecting on a Legacy

Reflecting on the character’s psyche, Bailey described Anthony as a man who “bottled everything up until the pressure became unbearable.” This final explosion of emotion, he noted, felt like a fitting end for a character who had spent years trying to maintain a composed exterior.

First appearing in December 2000, Anthony Truman was a staple of the Square during the early 2000s, involved in major plotlines with the Slater family and the Trumans. Though he left as a series regular in 2003, his occasional returns—most recently for his father Patrick’s wedding to Yolande—always signaled significant shifts for the Truman clan.

Looking to the Future

While Anthony’s journey has ended, the fallout from his death is set to ignite a firestorm in 2026. Executive producer Ben Wade has hinted that the “tragic comedy” of Walford will continue to evolve, with new characters like Ronnie Anona’s arrival and a major “revenge” arc involving Harry Mitchell. Furthermore, the much-anticipated New Year’s Day flash-forward episode is expected to tie several threads together, involving a massive twist for Max Branning.

As Nicholas Bailey hangs up the stethoscope for the last time, he leaves behind a legacy of intense performance and a character who helped define an era of the show. For the residents of Albert Square, however, the ghost of Anthony Truman and the mystery of his final moments will haunt the Square long after the Christmas lights have been dimmed.