Anthony Trueman star's life away from EastEnders - as he returns tonight

Anthony Trueman star, Nicholas Bailey, has packed a lot into his 11-year break from EastEnders. Doctor Anthony caused quite a stir when he was in Albert Sqaure, relishing a romance with Kat Slater - before embarking on an affair with her daughter, Zoe.

However, Nicholas, 54, who is returning to the soap tonight has, thankfully, lead, a much less dramatic life away from EastEnders, enjoying a stint in the West End as well as becoming the proud ambassador for a children's hospice.

So, as we wait for his bombshell return to Walford where Anthony - fresh off the flight from Scotland - immediately makes a beeline for former flame, Kat, here's a look at what Nicholas has been up to since we last saw him in Walford...

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West End stint

In 2016, Nicholas enjoyed a West End stint, playing Marty Madison, the manager of ,Jimmy Early, in the West End production of Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre in London.

The actor sang his heart out as barritone, Marty, in the Olivier Award-winning, Broadway musical, which was directed by Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin), and is inspired by hits from The Supremes, The Shirelles and James Brown.

Death in Paradise

Nicholas rocked up in Caribbean crime show, Death in Paradise in 2022, playing Cornelius StBrice. Cornelius spent much of the episode in February lounging in Detective Neville Parker's hammock, with the character, played by Ralf Little, having words with his sister who invited Cornelius in the first place.

Nicholas joined Irish actors, Owen McDonnell and Aisling McGuckin in the show, which is set on the stunning island of Saint Marie.

Motivational speaker

One of English football's first black players and the British Army's first ever black officer to command white troops was celebrated as part of Armistice Day commemorations in 2021 and Nicholas gave a moving speech in his honour at the Cenotaph.

The actor, who made a film about Walter Tull in 2008, paid tribute to former Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton Town player in London.

Speaking about the The 2nd Lt, who died in March 1918, during World War One, Nicholas said Tull was "an exceptional human being".

Nicholas said a few words about Tull before reading the John McCrae poem In Flanders Fields.

The actor told BBC Breakfast he had first come across Tull's story in 1998 when "hardly anybody had heard of him", and had spent four years researching his life.

Educational ambassador

As well as treading the boards and delivering moving speeches at the cenotaph, Nicholas has also been working an educational ambassador for Learning Labs, helping speakers of other languages learn English.

Speaking about the importance of enabling EAL (English as an Additional Language) pupils to learn English independently and at their own pace via visual lessons in their home language, he said: “This is extremely important.

“It was only when I got to talk with educators across Birmingham that I realised the challenges schools are facing. In the UK, there are 1.5 million pupils with EAL. Here in the West Midlands, EAL students make up nearly half of Birmingham’s pupil population.”

Nicholas’ ambassador role sees him tell stories to create a conversation, going into schools and meeting teachers and families.

Research fellow

Aside from his work with EAL students, the multi-faceted actor is also a Research Fellow at the Centre for Responsible Business at the University of Birmingham.

According to Nick's LinkedIn, he explores "the topics of leadership development, workplace wellbeing, experiential learning, emotional labour, DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging) in leadership and leadership impact."

He continues: "I apply my research insights to design and deliver experiential learning solutions that help leaders and organisations achieve their potential and goals."

Hospice ambassador

As a proud ambassador of Acorn’s Children’s Hospice, Nicholas said he was delighted to announce that people's donations for the hospice would be doubled earlier this year.

Describing the work of the hospice in the West Country, he said: "We care for 781 life-limited and life-threatened children and 1,045 families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire.

"Our goal is to raise £25k which will double to pay for a vital palliative care nurse to join a dedicated team serving our community with love, dedication and care."

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