ATV Icon: Anita Dobson

As EastEnders begins its 40th anniversary year in 2025, a special Christmas Day ATV Icon induction for Anita Dobson…

Christmas and EastEnders have become like butter on bread over the last 39 years. And Christmas Day 1986 became the BBC One saga’s most successful offering as Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) served up an unexpected festive present of divorce papers to Ange.

Anita Dobson was born on the 29th of April 1949 in Stepney, London and is still, fondly remembered as the first queen of The Vic in ‘Enders, Angie Watts. A distinguished British actress and singer, her dynamic career spans television, theatre, music, and film.

It all started in the world of showbiz when Dobson trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, laying the groundwork for her prolific career. In the late 1970s acting roles on film and television began to be offered to Anita but she probably is best remembered, for people of a certain age, during this time as a television presenter on BBC series Play Away.

A few acting parts followed including a number of appearances in Jim Davidson’s cockney sitcom Up the Elephant and Round the Castle (Thames TV for ITV) before landing the part of hard-done-by Angie Watts in EastEnders.

Although not the first choice to play the alcoholic wife of Den, who drove her to drink with is womanising and dodgy schemes, she became one of the most memorable characters from EastEnders, despite being on the show for less than five years, and at a time when it only aired two episodes a week.

Dobson’s portrayal of Angie, the emotionally complex landlady of the Queen Vic pub, captivated audiences and despite the character being killed-off, off screen, by producers twenty years ago fans have always hoped that in some way Ange might somehow be seen in Albert Square again.

Dobson’s television work includes roles in Split Ends (1989), Dangerfield (1995), Ghosts (1995), Sunburn (1999), Hotel Babylon (2007), The Last Detective (2004), and guest spots in Casualty and Holby City. She also appeared in The Bill (2005) and the radio serial Doctor Who: Blood of the Daleks. In 2023, Dobson joined Doctor Who as the enigmatic Mrs. Flood, a semi-regular character. She has also competed on BBC One celebrity ballroom battle, Strictly Come Dancing.

In 1986, Dobson released “Anyone Can Fall in Love,” a song based on the EastEnders theme, produced by Queen guitarist Brian May. The single reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. Thanks to its success an album followed.

Antia’s stage credits are extensive, including roles such as Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion (1980), Mama Morton in Chicago (2003), Gertrude in Hamlet (2005), and Mistress Quickly in The Merry Wives of Windsor with the Royal Shakespeare Company (2012). She also starred in Wicked as Madame Morrible (2016–2017) and appeared in Fiddler on the Roof (2019).

Dobson married Brian May on November 18th, 2000. The couple met in 1986, and their relationship has been a notable partnership in the entertainment industry.