In a poignant and nostalgic episode of EastEnders, viewers were transported back to the 1990s as Nigel Bates grappled with memories altered by his dementia diagnosis. The special instalment, which became available to stream on BBC iPlayer on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, featured the return of several beloved faces from Walford's past.
A Blast from the Past for Nigel Bates
The episode centred on Nigel Bates (played by Paul Bradley), who sought solitude in The Vic after a film screening. His condition triggered a vivid altered reality, pulling him back in time. He encountered his late wife, Debbie (Nicole Duffett), who died in 1995, alongside Walford legends Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement) and her stepson Barry (Shaun Williamson). The most striking returns for many fans, however, were the younger versions of the iconic Mitchell brothers, Phil and Grant.
Stepping back into the shoes of the teenage hard men were actors Daniel Delaney and Teddy Jay. They reprised their roles as young Phil and Grant Mitchell, originally made famous by Steve McFadden and Ross Kemp. This marked another critically acclaimed return for the duo, who have previously appeared in flashback episodes to great applause.
Who Are the Actors Behind the Young Mitchells?
Daniel Delaney, aged 28, returns as the younger incarnation of Phil Mitchell. Renowned for his striking resemblance to Steve McFadden in both look and voice, Delaney first appeared in a major 2022 Mitchell flashback episode alongside Jaime Winstone as a young Peggy Mitchell. His other credits include roles in the BAFTA-winning comedy We Are Lady Parts, a voiceover for the Rocketman biopic, and appearances in adverts for brands like Gumtree and Amazon Prime Video.
Speaking about portraying Phil's origins in 2022, Delaney highlighted the importance of the character's journey: "Everyone knows Phil now as Mr Macho, a gangster that is feared by many but it's his journey from a teenage boy that made him that way."
Teddy Jay once again portrays the young Grant Mitchell. Trained at the Rose Bruford College, his screen debut was the 2022 EastEnders flashback. His other work includes stage roles and a part in the short film Tybalt & Mercutio. He is also set to appear in the upcoming Aaron Taylor-Johnson crime thriller, Fuze.
More Than Just Nostalgia
The return of the young Mitchells was not merely a nostalgic trick. Their appearance earlier in February 2025 was integral to Phil's mental health storyline during the show's 40th-anniversary celebrations. This latest return serves a deeper narrative purpose, framing Nigel's poignant and confused memories through the lens of familiar, powerful figures from Walford's history.
The episode underscores EastEnders' commitment to tackling sensitive issues like dementia while expertly weaving in the show's rich history. The performances by Delaney and Jay continue to be a vital link, helping to flesh out the backstories of two of British soap's most enduring characters.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One, with episodes available to stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
