ICON RETURNS EastEnders legend Pam St Clement breaks silence on shock return – 13 years after Pat DIED in soap
EASTENDERS legend Pam St Clement has broken her silence on her shock return to Walford over a decade on from Pat Butcher’s death.
Pam admitted it was emotionally tough to jump back into the role 13 years after Pat tragically died of cancer.
The iconic matriarch enjoyed a sensational return last night as part of Nigel’s special dementia episode.
In heartbreaking scenes, Nigel struggled to remember where he was as he hunted for a cab in the Square.
But as he wandered into the Queen Vic, he suddenly found himself surrounded by 90s decor and loved ones from his past.
His old pal Pat and another dead character Barry Evans, played by Shaun Williamson, were there to greet him.
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“What do you have to do to get a taxi in this place?” Nigel moaned.
“And a very Merry Christmas to you and all sweetheart,” Pat replied.
Actress Pam St Clement, 83, reprised her flamboyant role for the special episode despite Pat dying of cancer in 2012.
She admitted she was “bewildered” by the experience, believing she’d let go of the character, but wearing Pat’s jangling earrings again helped.
“I would say that the key to the whole ensemble must be the earrings,” she said.
Pam added: “I think I was a bit bewildered, and a bit bowled over.
“Coming back to jump into those clothes and make-up again was strangely difficult.
“I thought it was going to be much easier, but I think I’ve probably been through the point in my life, having played her, where I had divested myself of her.
“Her accoutrement (things), her clothes, her make-up and everything else, and I thought I had, but the strange thing is that the public don’t because it’s so fresh.
She admitted: “That’s probably because there are a lot of repeats that go on, on television, like EastEnders classics and things like that.”
The star said she’s recognised even by younger EastEnders fans.
She added: “There are youngsters that come up, and you think ‘thank you very much’ but how do you know me?
“You’re too young! ‘Oh no, we watch it on the television’ and indeed they do, and it’s nice to have that following.”
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Barry actor Shaun also told how he wanted to raise awareness of dementia after watching his mum Irene battle’s before she died three years ago.
He said: “It felt incredibly personal for me.
“My mum passed away after getting dementia. We lost her in 2022.
“That’s why I thought returning was such a great idea, and why the story hit me so deeply.
“I was shocked to be asked, but genuinely thrilled.
“Covid was especially hard on her — mainly due to the lack of social interaction.
“We did everything we could as a family to support her, but she then suffered a stroke and we lost her.
“It was heartbreaking. She was 87.
“I wanted to raise awareness because in 30 to 40 years’ time it’s predicted that dementia cases will have doubled.
“That’s a frightening thought.”
Barry was killed off 21 years ago when he was pushed off a cliff by Janine, played by Charlie Brooks.
