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Debbie Bates (also Tyler) is a fictional character from the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
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soap opera
A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...
''
EastEnders
''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the Ea ...
'', played by
Nicola Duffett
Nicola Duffett (born 22 January 1963) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Debbie Bates on ''EastEnders'' and Cat MacKenzie on ''Family Affairs''.
Career
Duffett had a supporting role in the Oscar-winning film ''Howards End'' ...
from 1993 to 1995. She was introduced as a love interest for
Nigel Bates (
Paul Bradley), but was killed-off in 1995 at Duffett's request.
Storylines
Debbie first appears in
Walford
Walford is a fictional borough of east London in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. It is the primary setting for the soap. ''EastEnders'' is filmed at Borehamwood in Hertfordshire, towards the north-west of London. Much of the location work i ...
in May 1993 as a friend of
Tracey the barmaid (
Jane Slaughter), attending Tracey's hen party. She becomes a love interest for
Nigel Bates (
Paul Bradley), when she meets him at his birthday party. Debbie and her daughter,
Clare (
Gemma Bissix
Gemma Bissix (born 6 June 1983) is an English actress. She has been acting since the age of 9. Her most prominent roles have been in soap operas, as Clare Bates in ''EastEnders'' (1993–1998, 2008) and Clare Devine in '' Hollyoaks'' (2006–20 ...
), move nearby to escape Debbie's ex-husband
Liam Tyler
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' in 1993, by order of first appearance. 1994 was a historic year for ''EastEnders'', as in April, a third weekly episode was introduced. Due to the pr ...
(
Francis Magee
Francis Magee (born 7 June 1959) is an Irish actor. He portrayed Liam Tyler in British soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 1993 to 1995. He has also appeared in numerous television shows and feature films, including ''Sahara'' (2005), ''Layer Cake'' ...
), who has been abusing her. Liam eventually tracks Debbie down and makes several attempts to break up Nigel and Debbie but is unsuccessful, and Debbie and Clare both move to Walford to live with Nigel.
In July 1994, Debbie marries Nigel and they are content in marriage. She starts working at the local bookmakers but her boss,
Stan Dougan (Jack Chissick), constantly tries to flirt with her, which she dislikes. She keeps this a secret from Nigel but when Stan makes a move on her she quickly rejects him and quits her job. Nigel is suspicious of Debbie suddenly quitting but eventually finds out Stan has been harassing her, so he punches Stan.
Tragedy strikes soon after when Debbie is killed in a hit-and-run accident in June 1995. Police tell Nigel that she walked out into a road and someone hit her at speed, killing her instantly. Debbie's death devastates Nigel and Clare for some time. Nigel goes on to adopt Clare after Liam returns and is unsuccessful in his attempt to gain custody of her. On the 13th anniversary of Debbie's death in 2008, Clare and
Dot Branning
Dorothy "Dot" Branning (also Cotton) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, ''EastEnders'', played by June Brown. In a special episode entitled ''EastEnders: Dot's Story'' (2003) a young Dot was played by Tallulah Pitt-Brown in fl ...
(
June Brown
June Muriel Brown (16 February 1927 – 3 April 2022) was an English actress and author. She was best known for her role as Dot Cotton on the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' (1985–1993; 1997–2020). In 2005, she won Best Actress at the ''In ...
) visit her grave.
Creation and development
Debbie was introduced in 1993 by executive producer
Leonard Lewis
Leonard Jack Lewis (29 November 1927 – 2 December 2005) was a British producer and director. He was most active in television. He was the Executive/Series Producer for BBC's ''EastEnders'' during the early 1990s, though he had success with ma ...
as a love-interest for
Nigel Bates (
Paul Bradley).
Debbie's actress Duffett has described Debbie as "nice, unassuming and shy", which she claims was in stark contrast to her own personality. Debbie's introduction storyline stemmed around a storyline focusing on spousal abuse, when it was revealed that Debbie was being abused by her estranged husband
Liam Tyler
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' in 1993, by order of first appearance. 1994 was a historic year for ''EastEnders'', as in April, a third weekly episode was introduced. Due to the pr ...
(
Francis Magee
Francis Magee (born 7 June 1959) is an Irish actor. He portrayed Liam Tyler in British soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 1993 to 1995. He has also appeared in numerous television shows and feature films, including ''Sahara'' (2005), ''Layer Cake'' ...
). Nigel and Debbie's eventual marriage was the focus of ''EastEnders''
' celebratory episode on 12 July 1994, which marked the show's 1000th episode. ''EastEnders''
' writer
Colin Brake
Colin Brake (born 1962) is an English television writer and script editor best known for his work for the BBC on programmes such as '' Bugs'' and '' EastEnders''. He has also written spin-offs from the BBC series '' Doctor Who''. He lives and w ...
has selected it as 1994's episode of the year.
Off-screen the show's Series Producer
Barbara Emile
Barbara Emile is a British television producer. Emile contributed to the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' for several years. She first started working on the serial as script editor underneath producer Leonard Lewis, and she began producing the pro ...
decided to mark the 1000th episode with a celebration and the wedding of Nigel and Debbie was chosen as the event. It was scripted to be a happy occasion in the soap, with Debbie and Nigel's ceremony going ahead despite threats of intrusion from Liam.
Duffett grew weary of playing Debbie saying she became too boring and drippy, and asked the producers of ''EastEnders'' to kill her character off in 1995, which they did; Debbie was killed in a hit-and-run motor accident.
Duffett has commented, "I left ''EastEnders'' of my own accord, without a shadow of a doubt. I begged to be killed. I ran to the script editor's office. Every time I see him at a party he says, 'I'll never forget you.' Because I ran in crying, 'Kill me NOW! I can't stand it.' Because the part was so boring. I played this simpering wimp, Debbie. All I did was walk into the Vic and say, 'Where's Nigel?'"
Duffett has stated that she has no regrets about leaving the role,
and that she wanted her character killed so she had no opportunity to ever return as she worried about being typecast.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bates, Debbie
EastEnders characters
Television characters introduced in 1993
Female characters in television