EastEnders has delivered yet another jaw-dropping twist during its 40th-anniversary celebrations,
bringing back a legendary character after an astonishing 37 years away from the screen.
Anita Dobson, known for her iconic role as Angie Watts, made a surprising return to the BBC soap during the dramatic February 19 episode.
The actress, now 75, originally starred as Angie from 1985 to 1988,
playing the troubled Queen Vic landlady whose turbulent marriage to Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) captivated audiences.
Fans were left in shock as Angie reappeared in an unexpected way—through a hallucination experienced by her daughter, Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).
The emotional moment occurred after Sharon was trapped under rubble following the devastating gas explosion that obliterated the Queen Vic. As she drifted in and out of consciousness, she was confronted by a vision of her mother, adding an eerie and sentimental layer to the unfolding drama.
Dobson’s return marks a historic moment for EastEnders, as Angie Watts remains one of the most memorable characters in British soap history. Her departure in 1988 followed a legendary storyline in which she served divorce papers to her cheating husband Den on Christmas Day 1986—a scene watched by an astonishing 30.1 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched episodes in UK soap history.
The emotional impact of Angie’s brief return cannot be understated. As Sharon battled to stay alive, the vision of her mother symbolized her struggle, grief, and resilience, reminding fans of the deep-rooted legacy of the Watts family in Albert Square. The spectral appearance of Angie was a poignant nod to the past, bridging the gap between the soap’s rich history and its explosive present-day drama.
This stunning return comes amid a week of intense and heart-stopping storylines as EastEnders marks four decades on air. The catastrophic explosion at the Queen Vic, which was set off by Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) after he crashed his car into a barrel store filled with gas canisters, has left the fate of several characters hanging in the balance. Among those affected are pregnant women Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), who were trapped in the wreckage.
Meanwhile, Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) raced to rescue Sonia, unaware that Reiss was lurking nearby. As Sonia went into labor, disaster struck once more when a section of the building collapsed, fatally crushing Reiss under falling debris. His shocking demise marked the first casualty of the tragedy—but with the Queen Vic in ruins and multiple characters still in peril, more heartbreak could be on the horizon.
Dobson’s return as Angie Watts adds another layer of nostalgia and emotional weight to the anniversary episodes, giving long-time fans a bittersweet trip down memory lane. Her presence, even in hallucination form, highlights the lasting impact of her character and the continued influence of the Watts family in EastEnders’ ongoing legacy.
As the gripping anniversary week unfolds, viewers remain on edge, wondering who will make it out alive and what consequences the explosion will have for Albert Square’s residents. One thing is certain—EastEnders has once again proven its ability to shock, surprise, and honor its past while forging ahead with gripping new storylines.
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