EastEnders’ Nigel and Julie Bates renew their marriage in front of their friends next week, as Phil Mitchell vows to keep his best mate close to home. Hoping to give Nigel a special day, resentful Julie bans Phil from attending the ceremony. But will Phil take his anger out on her and ruin their big day?

“Julie wants this to be a perfect day,” explains our Walford insider. “Even if Nigel won’t remember it, it’s a day she wants to treasure. But she still can’t forgive Phil for trying to take Nigel to Portugal behind her back…”

After her huge bust-up with Phil, Julie and Nigel are struggling to make themselves at home in Peacock Palace. Nigel is confused by their alien surroundings and can’t make sense of why they’re not speaking to Phil.

Exhausted from being Nigel’s carer with no respite, Julie is touched when Linda offers to sit with him so she can take a break.

However, when Julie makes to leave, distressed Nigel lashes out and accidentally hurts her. When Linda sees multiple bruises on Julie’s arms, she’s upset to see her neighbour suffering in silence.

Unaware of the dispute between Julie and Phil, Linda confronts him and asks him to step up and support Julie. But when Julie explains Phil planned to take Nigel to Portugal without telling her, Linda is appalled. Wanting to support Julie, Linda has a bright idea…

“Linda takes the stress off Julie’s hands and organises the vow renewal!” reveals our source. “It’s a beautiful gesture of friendship. But Julie’s adamant that Phil isn’t invited, even though she knows it would break Nigel’s heart.”

Despite Julie trying to keep Phil and Nigel apart, on the day of the vow renewal, confused Nigel wanders over to Phil’s house, presuming he’s the best man. Phil’s angry not to be invited, but he’s hiding a huge secret of his own.

The previous day, Phil had a phone call from the care home, who informed him they now have a place for Nigel that they have 24 hours to accept…

“A care home is the last place on earth Phil wants Nigel to be,” says our insider. “Phil’s in denial about how ill his best mate is. He can’t save Nigel, but he still wants to give him the best end to life possible.”

Phil agrees to take Nigel to the wedding, then leave. But will he ruin the big day by upsetting Julie? And can he bear to tell her the truth about the care home?