EASTENDERS star Nicholas Bailey has broken his silence on his exit after Anthony Trueman was killed off on Christmas Day.
The actor first played Anthony 25 years ago but has now bowed out of the soap after he was
Anthony Trueman star Nicholas Bailey has admitted he’s sad to leave EastEndersCredit: BBC
Who killed Anthony Trueman in EastEnders?Credit: BBC
Viewers saw Anthony brutally knock out Zoe Slater before ending up dead himself by the time she came to.
Now actor Nicholas has admitted he’s sad this chapter has come to an end.
He said: “I was sad things were coming to an end, but I wanted to lean into the excitement of this story being a launch pad for some incredible stuff heading into 2026.
“I love and I love seeing the show thrive. So, while I’m sad to be saying goodbye to Anthony, I’m happy it means my friends are going to have some incredible stuff to play following his death. “
But he admitted that he was excited to play out Anthony’s exit, adding: “My jaw hit the floor when our producer Ben Wadey told me where this was going and what was going to happen.
“But I think it was a masterstroke because when I look back, Anthony was always a bit like a pressure cooker, and he let things build and build before the steam escapes. This time he couldn’t keep the lid on it!”
He added: “A Christmas storyline is a huge moment in soap, so to get that and a was a real honour!
“Obviously, it was bittersweet because it meant I was leaving, and I’ve felt really at home since I came back to EastEnders.
“But the storyline itself is tremendous, and it gave me much more to do than I expected. It’s been great to come out of my comfort zone and play some spectacular scenes full of spectacular lines.”
Nicholas also opened up about what he’ll miss about the soap.
He said: “Walking onto set at EastEnders every day is great because you have incredible people to work with in every department.
“There’s such a strong and positive culture there and everyone is rooting for one another. I’m very grateful to the fans of EastEnders for their steadfast support for so many years and all the positivity they’ve given me.
“I started this stint full of gratitude and I’m leaving with gratitude.“
However he will take away fond memories from his time on the show.
He said: “There are so many – my first scenes back with Rudy (Walker) and Jessie (Wallace), Patrick and Yolande’s wedding, the feud with Howie and Anthony exposing him to Kim and Patrick, and many, many more.
“I was over the moon to discover I’d be working with Michelle Ryan again. I didn’t know she was coming back when I was offered the job, so that was terrific because she’s a good friend and a tremendous actor.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
