EastEnders star Nicholas Bailey hopes to ‘make Albert Square proud’ in major career announcement
EastEnders star Nicholas Bailey has teased that he’s hoping to ‘make Albert Square proud’ as he made a major career announcement.
The Anthony Trueman actor returned to the BBC soap earlier in the year for the first time in over a decade. Anthony had not been seen in Walford since making a brief appearance after his dad Patrick Trueman suffered a stroke in 2014.
First debuting in Walford in 2000, Anthony was involved in a number of major storylines, including his love triangle with Kat and Zoe Slater. Anthony cheated on Zoe, who he was engaged to, with her mum in one of the soap’s more controversial storylines.
Anthony initially said goodbye to Albert Square in 2003, after he accidentally caused the death of a pregnant patient and decided to go travelling. Fans have seen him make brief returns every now and then in the ensuing years.
However, this all changed in August when he decided to return on a permanent basis ahead of his dad and Yolande’s wedding. Upon his arrival, Anthony was shocked to learn that Patrick was in hospital following an attack.
Once it was cleared up that Osar Branning didn’t mean to hurt Patrick and was trying to get money to pay off thugs, Anthony has mainly been focused on Zoe, with Michelle Ryan returning to soap on a permanent basis for the first time since 2005 in September.
With it revealed that Zoe gave birth to twins in a flashback sequence set in 2006, many fans are adamant that Anthony will be revealed to be the father.
Other fans are fearing that Anthony is about to go on a villainous arc, with Zoe being tormented by a mysterious figure for a number of weeks. Anthony even tried playing off Zoe’s fears by suggesting that she was having a breakdown.
On Tuesday afternoon (November 25), Nicholas was revealed as the fourth celebrity announced to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, which marks Tess Daly and Claudia Winkelman’s final time presenting the series.
Helping Nicholas learn the art of dance for the festive special, which airs on Christmas Day, is professional dancer Luba Mushtuk. The Russian native is without a partner on this year’s main series.
Joining Strictly in 2018, Luba has been without a partner since she and BBC presenter Nick Knowles were the third couple eliminated two years ago. Over the years, she’s danced with Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas, rowing legend James Cracknell and American footballer Jason Bell.
Nicholas said of him joining Strictly: “‘I’m really excited to be doing this, almost as excited as my wife and daughters are! Hopefully I’ll do them, Albert Square and Luba proud. Bring on the dancefloor.”
Outside of his work as Anthony on EastEnders, Nicholas appeared on Death in Paradise, Casualty, The Archers, Coronation Street and Miranda. Additionally, his theatre work has seen him perform extensively on stage across the UK and in the West End, where his credits include Dream Girls and Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap.
Nicholas joins the previously announced Scarlett Moffatt, Melanie Blatt and Jodie Ounsley (aka Fury) in Strictly’s festive line-up. The final two celebrities taking part in the 2025 Strictly Christmas special will be announced this week on Strictly spin-off It Takes Two.
With Head Judge Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke returning to grade the dancers, the stars will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner Tayce, with the drag queen and Kai Widdrington crowned the winners.