EastEnders fans have called out the BBC soap’s ‘biggest mistake’ as Pat Butcher and Barry Evans returned from the dead in an emotional episode.

It was announced earlier in the year that both Pam St Clement and Shaun Williamson were heading back to Albert Square. This news came as a shock to fans as both of their characters have been dead for years, without any chance of making a dramatic return like Cindy Beale or ‘Dirty’ Den Watts.

Pat and Barry popped up in Walford as a result of Nigel Bates’ recent battle with dementia. Viewers became worried for Nigel as his condition has been worsening in the run-up to Christmas.

Scenes aired on Tuesday night (December 23), saw Nigel alone in the Queen Vic as his friends watched the movies he’s spent weeks working on. Nigel began imagining he was back in the 1990s, initially meeting Pat.

Pat, who died of cancer in 2012, made reference to Peggy Mitchell, who was said to be upstairs and unable to come and join them. Showing her motherly instincts, Pat immediately knew something was wrong with Nigel and that he needed help.

With Nigel getting worried about his missing present, Pat’s son Barry emerged to sing Mud’s It’ll Be Lonely This Christmas on stage. He even managed to get a reluctant Nigel to join in on the song with him.

From here, Barry and Nigel began talking about women, with Barry ominously telling Nigel he doesn’t want to end up with a ‘psycho’. Barry was famously pushed off a cliff by Janine Butcher back in 2004.

The pair’s conversation was interrupted by younger versions of Phil and Grant Mitchell, who were arguing over a girl. Once again playing the younger duo was actors Daniel Delaney and Teddy Jay.

In a major twist, Nigel was then visited by his first wife Debbie. Played by Nicola Duffett, the character and actress has not been seen in over three decades after she was killed in a hit-and-run accident.

Nigel eventually came around when his current wife Julie Bates told him she found the present he was looking for, which was revealed to be a necklace asking her to remember him. The episode ended on an emotional note with Phil breaking the news to Nigel that he is unable to provide the support he needs and he will have to be put in a care home.

With one of the biggest episodes of the year now out, EastEnders fans took to X, previously known as Twitter, to have their say. However, most of them pointed out that the show should never have killed-off Pat.

@TheBigYin85 said: “The biggest mistake EastEnders has ever done was kill off Pat Butcher she had at least another 15/20 years left on the square @bbceastenders absolutely bad behaviour #EastEnders.” @felisa_elisa added: “The worst decision they ever made was killing off Pat. What an amazing actress Pam is. #EastEnders.”

@ClaireyWestside wrote: “Ghost Pat and Ghost Barry is the best thing that’s happened since Oscar Branning rocked up #Eastenders.” @LisaM_Catchpole: “#eastenders Tonight’s episode has had me in tears… It was so lovely to see Pat and Barry again as well as the young Phil and Grant..

@onelibra_ commented: “So glad to see Pat back but I wish it wasn’t spoilt that reveal would’ve shook me to my core #EastEnders.” @YasminAli__ posted: “Pat butcher icon of the square that moment at the end tonight was everything. Just wishing you didn’t spoil it for us few weeks ago by revealing the character return.”