There’s horror for Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) and his loved ones in EastEnders next week as he’s responsible for a car crash.

Since the beloved character returned to Walford last Christmas, his dementia symptoms have increasingly worsened, and forthcoming scenes in the BBC soap see him place himself and others in serious danger as he tries to make the most of the time he has left. 

Things descend into chaos

After Nigel announces his plan to travel to India, next week he decides to sell his beloved vintage car – which he was recently reunited with thanks to his wife Julie Bates (Karen Henthorn) – to help raise cash to fund the trip.

While he ends up getting less than he’d hoped after accidentally damaging the car prior to finalising the deal with Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), he’s still looking forward to his travels.

Nigel later tells Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) that he wants to take one last drive in his car and gets an idea after spotting the keys, which Lauren has misplaced.

After an argument with Julie, Nigel sneaks off for a drive. But when he later receives a call from his wife while behind the wheel, Nigel is distracted and crashes the car.

When other characters become embroiled in the accident, Julie can foresee how Nigel could face serious consequences, and comes up with a plan to protect him by claiming she was the one driving at the time of the crash.

With Nigel struggling to recall the accident, she lies to him about what happened, but he struggles to believe she was really responsible and sets off on a mission.

Julie eventually gets wind of what her husband is up to and attempts to intervene, continuing to protest she was driving – but it’s too late, as Nigel ends up confessing to local copper Jack Branning (Scott Maslen).

With Jack having helped many other locals cover up their crimes (as well as his own, let’s not forget), will he turn a blind eye to Nigel’s admission, or is he destined to spend his final months behind bars?

Actor Steve McFadden, who plays Nigel’s best mate Phil Mitchell, recently hinted there are some heartbreaking scenes to come in the storyline as the soap builds towards Christmas.

Speaking to the Daily Star, Steve said: ‘There will be more sadness for Phil. That’s what is coming up. Christmas might not be so good.’