Anita Dobson makes surprise return to EastEnders

Angie always enjoyed a spirit, and now she’s appeared as one herself…

After 37 years away, Anita Dobson made a spooky return to EastEnders in honour of its 40th anniversary to reprise her legendary role of Angie Watts, all be it as a ghostly vision to daughter Sharon.

Chris Clenshaw, EastEnders Executive Producer:

“Angie Watts is undoubtedly one of EastEnders most formidable and iconic landlady’s. Since the very first episode, Anita instantly created a character that the audience adored and she not only shaped EastEnders into the show it is today, but also had a huge impact on British television.

“Anita was of course top of our ultimate wish list when we were discussing what we would love to include in our special anniversary week, so it was the best birthday present we could ever receive when she said yes. Watching Angie Watts grace the halls of The Queen Victoria, 40 years to the day she made her first appearance in Walford, is a day we will never forget as we all celebrate this show that has played such an important part in British television. Happy birthday EastEnders.”

The Watts Family – Den, Sharon and Angie / BBC 1985

Appearing in the smokey ruins of the Queen Vic hallway – where Angie received her divorce papers from hubby Den (Leslie Grantham) in 1986 – Angie Watts was seen once again – in the original costume her character wore back in 1985 – to support her beloved daughter, Sharon Watts, who was seen fighting for her life as she lay under rubble following the huge explosion which rocked the Albert Square boozer.

As helpless Sharon drifted in and out of consciousness during the aftermath of the explosion, she saw the only person who could truly help her feel safe in that moment – her mum, the one and only Angie, who urged her to shout as it wasn’t her time yet to join her.

Angie had a troubled time in Walford in the 1980s, dealing with alcoholism and wayward husband Den and her quest to keep him from leaving her. Here Anita talks about returning to Albert Square forty years since she first was broadcast in EastEnders on BBC One.

Then: Angie in the Queen Vic hallway in 1985. Now: The vision of Angie talks to Sharon in the ruins of the staircase

After 37 years, how did it feel to step back into the role of Angie Watts for the shows 40th anniversary?

I have to say a huge thank you to everyone on the EastEnders team for making me feel so welcome. It was joyful. When I first put the costume on, it was like ‘Wow’. It was very wonderful and weird at the same time.

How difficult has it been to keep this secret? Did you tell anyone?

I obviously told Brian [May], but I honestly haven’t told anybody! It’s been really hard because so many people that I’m really close to have said ‘oh are you going back?’ because I’ve gone back to do the documentary, so it’s been so hard not to say anything. But, I’ve been a really good girl and I’ve kept my little mouth shut because I didn’t want there to be any spoilers! [Laughs]

Did you do anything to get yourself back into the role, or did it all come flooding back to you as soon as you stepped foot in The Vic?

She’s always there at the blink of an eyelash. She’s inside me, and she always will be.

What was it like to act alongside your on-screen daughter, Letitia Dean, once again?

Like stepping back into warm water. It was absolutely lovely. That’s what clinched it for me. When they initially asked if I would come back when I was filming for the documentary, I wasn’t really thinking of the whole picture at first, and then when they said Letitia had said that she’d like me to do it with her, I thought ‘oh my god, I can’t say no to seeing my baby again.’

It was very emotional. Incredibly emotional in a lovely, happy way. Working together again was seamless. We didn’t really think about it, or talk about it, or even rehearse it that much because we just did it. It was lovely. She’s a gorgeous human being and a lovely little actress.

The vision of Angie told Sharon it wasn’t time for them to be together yet

You’re often regaled as one of the show’s most iconic landladies. Are you proud to have played a part in the EastEnders rich history, and to be regarded so highly for your storylines?

Massively so. I feel honoured. People often say to me, ‘oh do you get fed up with it’ and I say ‘absolutely not’. If there is one thing in my career that I think went incredibly well, it was Angie Watts, and I’m so proud of all the things that she bought to me.

A few parts have come along for me in my career where they just fit like a glove, and Angie was a classic example of that. It was no effort to play her at all. She was a delight. As soon as I saw the scripts I thought ‘this one is a good one’.

When you joined the cast all of those years ago, did you have any inkling that the show and your character would have had such an impact?

I had no idea at all. I don’t think any of us did because even though I was in the middle of my career when I started, and so was Leslie, we were all unknown. All we really thought at the time was that we had a really good job that paid well for quite a long time.

I didn’t have a clue that it would go as well as it did, but I have to say, when we watched the first episode go out in the canteen at Elstree, Leslie and I were quite close together, and I remember looking at him. He looked at me and did this funny little grin, and I thought ‘yeah it’s good isn’t it’. I think I was shocked at how well it had come over, and that was the first tiny little inkling we had that we might have been on to something wonderful.

What are some of your fondest memories from your time on the show?

Oh gosh, there is so much. The comradery. We had a little gang; there was me, Sandy Ratcliff, Letitia Dean, Susan Tully and Gillian Taylforth, and the five of us used to go out of an evening because we wanted to hang out together.

We’d often go for lunch in a little café that used to be in the high street when we had a little break. That was something that stayed with me all my life. The tightness of that group. We didn’t just work together, we liked being together. It made it all the more fun.

Of course, I have to say that our storylines, in particular the Watts’ storylines were cracking, weren’t they? It was so good. I’d like to say a big thank you to all the writers because they really did create something magical. You can’t do it alone, it’s always team work in this business.

It’s got to be the writing, the performance, the direction, the way it’s shot, the way it looks, everything. Everything has to come into play, and the cameramen too. We had fantastic cameramen. So, I think it was a lucky moment in my life if I’m honest. I’d been waiting an awful long time for a break, a big break, and I didn’t have any clue when I got the part [of Angie Watts] that she was it, but it just fitted like a pair of new shoes, or a new dress, and I loved it. Suddenly it took off in a way that I couldn’t have imagined, and it changed my life.

EastEnders goes live tomorrow night at 7.30 pm on BBC One and the iplayer