Shaun Williamson has returned as Barry Evans in EastEnders flashback scenes alongside Nigel Bates.
Shaun Williamson has made a triumphant return to EastEnders, stepping back into the role of Barry Evans.
Long-time viewers of the BBC soap will be aware that Nigel Bates, played by Paul Bradley, has recently been diagnosed with early-onset dementia. On Monday (December 22), Walford residents embraced the festive spirit as they gathered at the community centre to watch a Christmas film made by Nigel.
However, after overhearing a tense conversation between his wife Julie (Karen Henthorn) and close friend Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) about how best to manage his deteriorating condition, Nigel headed to The Queen Vic for comfort.
Once inside the pub, Nigel’s thoughts drifted back to 1990, where he found himself reunited with Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement). In Tuesday’s episode (December 23), his confusion continued as Pat and her former stepson Barry Evans tried to reassure their old friend, the Mirror reports.
Barry first arrived in Walford in December 1994 as the son of Roy Evans (Tony Caunter) and quickly became known as a lovable, though often hapless, businessman. Initially created for just four episodes of the hit BBC soap, the character soon won over viewers and went on to remain a central presence for the next ten years.
Barry’s story came to a tragic end in 2004 following a dramatic showdown with his manipulative wife Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), who was secretly involved with Paul Trueman (Gary Beadle). During the confrontation, Janine pushed Barry from a cliff, and he died after striking his head on the rocks below.
Shaun Williamson, who was born in Maidstone, Kent, in 1965 and is now 60, began his working life as a postman after leaving school. In his late teens, he reportedly struggled with alcohol addiction, drinking as many as 12 pints a day by the time he was 18. Realising he needed to turn his life around, he made the decision to join the Royal Navy.
After completing his training at HMS Raleigh, Shaun set his sights on becoming a helicopter pilot, according to MyLondon. However, those ambitions were cut short when it emerged that he is colour blind.
Following his time in the Navy, Shaun worked in a variety of jobs before choosing to pursue an acting career at the age of 26. He went on to train at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, which marked the beginning of his journey into acting.
In 1994, Shaun secured the now-iconic role of Barry Evans in EastEnders, despite having already appeared on the show in a different capacity.
Before officially taking on the role of Barry, he briefly appeared earlier that same year as a paramedic in a previous episode of the long-running BBC soap.
Since leaving EastEnders 21 years ago, Shaun Williamson has enjoyed a prolific career on television, appearing in a variety of shows. His recent credits include Mr Bigstuff, Murder, They Hope, Significant Other, and Mister Winner.
Shaun also shared the screen with Ricky Gervais in the film The Invention of Lying, following their previous collaboration on Extras.
In addition, he has gained recognition for his strong performances on TV quiz shows. In 2022, Shaun won £150,000 for charity on The Chase.
Beyond acting, Shaun has carved out a successful niche as a performer with his nationwide karaoke show, Barrioke, where audiences join him in singing classics like Sweet Caroline.
Rather than worrying about being forever associated with his EastEnders character Barry, Shaun has embraced it and reportedly earned around half a million pounds from the connection, according to The Sun. Speaking to the publication, he said:
“It started with being on Extras, then it got to a point where I thought, ‘I’m never going to win an Oscar,’ and I came to terms with that. I’m proud of the fact I’m so well-known for it, even though I got pushed off a cliff over 20 years ago. I’m embracing it.”
Shaun has previously opened up about his secret son, born from a brief romance with a trapeze artist.
Just three months after their split, the trapeze artist discovered she was expecting Shaun’s son, who was later named Gary.
In a remarkable turn of events, father and son were eventually reunited. Speaking emotionally on Loose Women in 2020, Shaun recalled:
“We decided to reconnect. After a few phone calls, I had swabs done—no doubt whatsoever. Let’s have this relationship and make up for lost time. We met in Ireland, hired a couple of rooms, and were both nervous.
Gary had a lovely envelope of photographs showing him growing up over the years. We shared a few more pints and a couple of games of pool.
The next morning, we had a big cuddle. The next phase was introducing Sophie and Joe—they took to Gary straight away because he’s a great guy.”
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