Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) is forced to apologise to Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) for telling granddaughter Lexi (Isabella Brown) that he was receiving care in a psychiatric unit.
As viewers saw last month, Phil’s mental health seriously declined, forcing his friends and family to take drastic action.
Planning on taking his own life, he wrote a series of letters to his family before retiring to the garage where he aimed an unloaded gun at his head.
Luckily, the bullet had already been used and brother Grant (Ross Kemp), neighbour Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) and Nige were able to stop him from any further harm.
Realising that if he didn’t get professional help he would spiral further, Nigel called a specialist and Phil was sectioned under the mental health act.
The Mitchells were adamant that nobody found out about his situation – and decided not to tell Lexi where her grandad was.
Unfortunately for Nigel, he found himself in a difficult situation when he stumbled across the youngster reading Phil’s suicide notes this week.
Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) remained certain that she wasn’t to find out, but the situation only worsened when Nigel – who is living with young-onset dementia – confused the girl for his stepdaughter Clare (Gemma Bissix).
Lexi became convinced that Phil was dead, and Callum Highway (Tony Clay) was forced to confess the truth.
The family later visited Phil in his hospital, in a special episode which explored his journey over the last month.
In upcoming scenes, he returns home to Albert Square and is immensely grateful for the support he has received from everyone.
Despite that, he’s not prepared to face up to wider Walford and tell them that he’s spent time on a psychiatric ward.
Later, he heads to the cafe with Nigel, who fumbles what he says and Phil blurts out to Bernie that he is unwell – forcing a furious Nige to snap back and hit out.
As the week goes on, he apologises for sharing Phil’s secret, with the stalwart putting on a brave face as he heads out and about.
Best pal George Knight (Colin Salmon) tries his upmost to be there for his mate, but ultimately they struggle to navigate an open and honest conversation.
Linda enquires with Nigel about how his doctors appointment went, though he’s forced to lie as he didn’t actually attend.
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George asks her for a good way to support Phil, and is given food for thought when she suggests not giving up on making a breakthrough with their conversations.
He asks Phil to join him for a friendly sparring match at the gym, and with his mind elsewhere, he begins to open up.
The activity leaves George with an incredible idea – Nigel could open up a regular ‘Box and Bantz’ evening for over 40s at The Boxing Den, encouraging men to speak about their mental health.
Is Phil finally on a path to full recovery?
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