EastEnders Barry star’s sweet tribute to Roy actor Tony Caunter ahead of return
Barry Evans star Shaun Williamson is set to make a return to EastEnders – 21 years after iconic soap scenes saw Barry pushed off a cliff by new wife Janine Butcher
Shaun Williamson has paid tribute to Roy Evans actor Tony Caunter(Image: BBC)
Shaun Williamson made sure to pay a touching tribute to EastEnders icon Tony Caunter as Shaun returned to the soap’s set to reprise his role of Barry for a special episode, set to air this week.
Actor Shaun, 60, joined forces with Pat icon Pam St Clement as the soap legends made a comeback to Walford as they filmed a special episode, which will air this week, focussed on Nigel Bates’ dementia and the tragic turn he is taking in light of the disease.
Nigel, played by Paul Bradley, heads in a downward spiral at the beginning of Christmas week during the screening of his film in Walford. As Albert Square’s residents gather to celebrate the movie, Nigel gets up to make a speech but flees when he notices a bruise on wife Julie’s face and realises he is to blame.
Tony played Barry’s on-screen dad Roy(Image: BBC)
Phil Mitchell’s best mate heads for The Vic, where he is suddenly transported to Christmas past and encounters familiar faces, including Pat and Barry Evans – marking the epic return of soap icons Pam St Clement, who left the soap in 2012, and Shaun Williamson, whose character Barry was killed off by Janine Butcher in 2004. Meanwhile, fans are in for a further surprise as Debbie Bates also makes her comeback to the soap, too.
Speaking about his return to filming, and being reunited with a string of familiar faces, actor Shaun said: “It was brilliant to catch up with so many old faces. Particularly Paul Bradley who is here today, and Pam St Clement and Nicola, who is here who played Debbie. It’s great to see them again.”
Shaun also paid tribute to actor Tony Caunter, who played Barry’s on-screen dad and car dealer Roy Evans. He said: “And with the passing of the late great Tony Caunter, who played Roy, you realise time goes so quick, and it’s really great to see these people again.”
Barry Evans star Shaun Williamson also reprised his role for the special episode(Image: PA)
The soap actor, who has faced years of countless calls to come back to Albert Square, addressed his feelings about reprising the role. He said: “I was often asked, ‘would you go back to EastEnders’ and, I’ve always been like ‘no’ because you actually saw Barry die in a field in Scotland.
“So, I thought it would be a bit far fetched to bring him back, but, this – Nigel’s dementia dream; absolute genius. Well done [to] the writers. It’s a pleasure to be part of it.”
When asked how it felt to be back in Barry’s (hopefully this time slip-on) shoes once more, the actor revealed: “I’ll be honest with you. It’s a pleasure to be back, but it is weird. So many things have changed as well, and they would do in 22 years. It’s not exactly the same place that it was, and nor should it be. Things progress and move on and change.
Barry Evans was killed by Janine Butcher in iconic soap scenes in 2004(Image: BBC)
“Just walking on to the set, my legs started shaking before we did the scene. I’m quite cool in the head, but my legs started shaking, sort of giving me away. I was nervous, very nervous, but working with the great pros like Paul Bradley and Pam St Clement, [it was] no problem.”
Barry was originally slated to appear in just four episodes of Eastenders, but became an instant hit with fans and went on to take a leading role for ten years as a regular cast member.
Tragically, Barry was killed off in the New Year of 2004 when his wife, Janine Butcher, who had been cruel to him, revealed all about her affair with Paul Trueman. During an intense scene, she told Barry how their marriage was a sham and when he begged her not to leave, she pushed him, resulting in him falling off the edge of a cliff and hitting his head on rocks, leading to his d.e.a.t.h.
Despite not being on the show for over two decades, Barry remains one of the soap’s greatest legends.
