Clare Bates

Clare Bates (also Tyler) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Gemma Bissix. Bissix originally played the character as a schoolgirl from 1993 to 1998. She left the serial with her adoptive father Nigel Bates, when his actor Paul Bradley opted to leave. Following a ten-year hiatus, Bissix returned to the role in February 2008. The character was transformed from "cute and sweet" into a gold digging "maneater", chasing wealthy men for their money. The British media focused on the character's penchant for revealing clothing, and while she was praised by some critics, it was suggested that she was underused upon her return. Bissix again left EastEnders at the end of her contract in mid 2008. Her departing episode aired in August of that year. The character appeared in May 2025 in an uncredited cameo as a vision within Nigel's mind. The following year, Bissix reprised the role for a short stint when Clare returned to Walford on 4 March as part of Nigel's dementia storyline and left the following episode, 5 March.