EastEnders has officially confirmed that Barry Evans will return to the iconic BBC One soap next month — more than two decades after his unforgettable and tragic exit. Barry, played by actor Shaun Williamson, was a beloved yet hapless character who appeared on the show for ten years before meeting his fate on New Year’s Day 2004.

Longtime viewers will recall Barry’s shocking death, which occurred after he tumbled from a cliff during a heated confrontation with his wife Janine Butcher. The scene became one of the soap’s most talked-about moments, with Janine’s feeble attempt to deny responsibility spawning an iconic line among fans. To this day, the moment is frequently referenced in EastEnders retrospectives, with Radio Times calling Barry’s fall “one of the most memorable — and darkly comic — exits in the show’s history” (Radio Times).

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Barry Evans Returns to EastEnders for a Special Christmas Episode

The BBC teased Barry’s comeback earlier today with a cryptic post shared to the soap’s official Instagram and X accounts. The image showed a half-unwrapped Christmas present revealing a pair of size-8 shoes. The barcode printed on the box read 01012004 — a direct nod to the date Barry fell to his death.

The accompanying caption read: “Christmas is all about cracking open surprises.”
Fans immediately deciphered the hint, sending speculation into overdrive.

Executive Producer Ben Wadey later confirmed the return, saying:

“I’m delighted to welcome Shaun Williamson back to EastEnders for Nigel’s special episode.”

He added:

“Barry Evans was renowned for being one of Walford’s unluckiest residents — most notably for his choice of shoes. It was a privilege to welcome him back alongside Pat for these special scenes in The Vic.”

The return forms part of a nostalgic, one-off episode that takes viewers inside Nigel Bates’ mind as his dementia symptoms grow more severe. The episode transports him — and the audience — back to 1990s-era Walford, allowing him to revisit treasured memories of familiar faces including Barry Evans and Pat Butcher.

According to BBC News, EastEnders is embracing more experimental storytelling formats this year to explore characters’ emotional journeys in deeper, more evocative ways (BBC News). This upcoming episode appears to follow that trend.

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Shaun Williamson Speaks Out on His Surprise Comeback

Following the announcement, Shaun Williamson expressed both excitement and nerves about stepping back into Barry’s shoes — quite literally.

“It was a complete shock getting the call to go back to Albert Square, but so exciting!” he said.

“I have to admit to a few nerves (loads!) when I walked back onto the set of The Queen Victoria. But it was so great to work with old friends and colleagues on such a brilliant episode.”

“Just goes to show, you never know what’s around the corner!”

Williamson has occasionally referenced his time on EastEnders over the years, and The Guardian has previously praised the actor’s ability to balance comedy and pathos in Barry’s portrayal (The Guardian). His brief return this December is expected to tap into those same qualities — blending nostalgia, humour and emotional weight.

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What to Expect From Barry’s Return

Barry will reappear as part of Nigel’s screening of his festive film at The Vic. As Nigel’s dementia deepens, he imagines himself transported back to the pub as it was in the 1990s — complete with the familiar chatter, decor and faces of old Walford.

There, he encounters Barry and Pat, both appearing exactly as Nigel remembers them. According to Metro UK, the episode is set to be “a poignant blend of memory, imagination and Christmas warmth” (Metro UK).

This emotionally charged special is expected to be one of the highlights of EastEnders’ festive schedule, continuing the tradition of highly anticipated Christmas episodes that have long defined the soap’s legacy.