Anita Dobson returns to EastEnders as Angie Watts comes back from the d.e.a.d

EastEnders legend Anita Dobson has returned to the BBC soap after years away, leaving fans shocked.

Tonight’s episode of EastEnders saw the residents of Walford attempt to get as many trapped people out of the Queen Vic, as it began collapsing and burning down.

After becoming trapped upstairs in the pub, Sharon began to lose consciousness – with the Walford resident hallucinating Angie Watts speaking to her. The iconic character told her to start screaming for help and that it wasn’t her time just yet.

“You’re not giving up on us, are you Sharon?” Angie asked her. “Hello, darling! I’ve missed you so much.” As Sharon tells her that she’s cold, Angie replied: “I know baby and I wish I could just put my arms round you and give you a great big hug but it’s not time for us to be together yet darling.”

When Sharon admitted that she’s scared, Angie replied: “We’re all scared aren’t we? Look at me – spent my whole life being scared. But you’ve got to keep fighting, Sharon.”

Spurred on by an imaginary Angie’s words, Sharon began calling for help – with Grant rushing in to rescue her out of the burning building.

Anita, 75, last appeared on EastEnders in 1988 as Angie Watts, one of the original soap characters who has been involved in some of the most iconic episodes in EastEnders history.

Anita appeared on EastEnders: 40 Years on The Square earlier this week, stopping by the documentary that marks the soap’s birthday milestone. Hosted by Ross Kemp, who recently returned as Grant Mitchell, the documentary looked back on the soap’s “iconic moments” and “groundbreaking storylines”.

The Angie star was just one of the ex cast members to appear in the film, chatting about her character’s relationship with husband Den Watts (played by the late Leslie Grantham). The original landlord and landlady of the Queen Vic, Angie and Den’s marriage captivated the nation – with over 30 million tuning in on Christmas Day in 1986 to watch Den serve Angie divorce papers.

Angie left Walford two years later, with the iconic character dying off-screen in 2002.

Earlier in the episode, fans watched as Reiss Colman was crushed to d.e.a.t.h by a falling bathtub in the Queen Vic, after being shoved by Bianca Jackson. This marks the exit of star Jonny Freeman, who joined the BBC One soap back in 2022 as Dot Cotton’s great-nephew.

The character had taken a villainous route over the past few months after k.l.l.i.n.g his comatose wife Debbie to start a new life with fiancé Sonia Jackson – who was eventually arrested for the crime.

Reiss then took Sonia’s sister Bianca hostage before framing her for the m.u.r.d.e.r and leaving her to d.i.e. He then fled Walford when Sonia learnt the truth – but returned to explain himself and accidentally caused the Queen Vic explosion after driving into the pub.