Following this, Zoe was reunited with their presumed dead daughter - revealed to be Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) - who had been tormenting Zoe with encouragement from her returned old enemy Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman).
Anthony's story with Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan, right) was his downfall. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
What was it like to film a massive Christmas exit and have so much drama for Anthony in his final days?
"A Christmas storyline is a huge moment in soap, so to get that and a big Christmas Day exit 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."
Did you expect Anthony to go down such a dark path?
"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!"
Rudolph Walker (left) and Nicholas Bailey had one final stint on EastEnders together. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
How did you feel to say goodbye to Anthony after so many years?
"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 EastEnders 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."
Above all else, Bailey shared his "gratitude" for being asked to return and for working with Rudolph Walker, Jessie Wallace, and Michelle Ryan once again - the last of whom he was unaware he would be working with when he initially signed up to return.
Lewis is the News and Trends Editor at Radio Times and leads our approach to news, reactive content, and serving audience demands and interests. An obsessive fan of television and film, Lewis is a Nicole Kidman fanatic with a side of passion for science-fiction, art-house cinema and the latest HBO drama. Lewis has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Film Studies. After working in advertising, Lewis worked at The Mirror for three years in community management and SEO, showbiz, film and television reporting.
