Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions.

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates and players across the NFL are expressing their religious views during interviews (AP video: Mike Householder)

Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus in a prime-time interview on NBC after lifting the Lions to a win over the Texans with a 52-yard field goal as time expired. A month later,

Nigel Bates has returned to the BBC soap EastEnders for the first time in 26 years in a special Christmas Eve episode. The character, played by Paul Bradley, appeared at a community centre where Yolande Trueman,

EastEnders aired a blast from the past on Christmas Eve, as Nigel Bates, played by actor Paul Bradley, returned to the BBC soap for the first time in almost 30 years

Nigel Bates is back in Walford for the first time in 26 years as EastEnders viewers got a festive surprise when Phil's friend returned to Walford on Christmas Eve. Viewers saw Nigel in tonight's Christmas Eve episode when he turned up at the community centre where Yolande Trueman was volunteering.