Angie Watts' Shocking Return to EastEnders: A Moment That Left Fans in Tears!

“You’re not giving up on us, are you, Sharon?”

In celebration of its 40th year, EastEnders offered a classic, buzzworthy television experience by bringing back an iconic figure from our screens: none other than the original proprietor of the Queen Vic pub, Angie Watts, portrayed by actress Anita Dobson.

Did you know that Angie appeared on screen for less than four years on BBC One soap opera? She left the show in 1988 when Dobson decided to step down from her role.

Angie Watts’ influence, most notably her turbulent and poisonous marriage with her husband ‘Dirty’ Den Watts (Leslie Grantham), left a lasting imprint on television that continues to be vividly remembered as part of British popular culture.

Unfortunately, Angie’s character met an untimely end off-screen in 2002, as a long and tragic fight against alcoholism resulted in her demise due to cirrhosis of the liver. Her daughter Sharon, who was residing in America at the time, came back to Walford for her mother’s funeral.

In an interview with TopMob magazine in 2010, Dobson expressed approval for the decision to end Angie’s character: “When my agent called to tell me they were planning to write off her role, I replied, ‘That sounds great.’ It seemed fitting. They had frequently asked if I would return, and I always answered, ‘I never say never,’ but in truth, a reappearance was unlikely.

Indeed, we had assumed that we wouldn’t see Angelina (Angie) on our screens ever again, but surprisingly, during the 40th anniversary celebration, we were given a spectral image of Angie, which brought Dobson back to reenact his role after an absence of 37 years.

Beyond just the thrill of the unexpected arrival and Dobson’s agreement to come back, there were several significant aspects that really turned this special moment into a melody.

Initially, it wasn’t only the Queen Victoria pub that served as the backdrop for the return; instead, it was Angie’s performance stage during the show’s early years and more significantly, the scene where she tended to an injured Sharon on the debris of the Queen Victoria pub’s staircase.

The stairs were more than just the backdrop for Angie’s most memorable event, the highly-rated announcement of her divorce on Christmas Day in 1986; they were also the scene of numerous emotional episodes during Angie’s time there, usually marked by tears and a gin drink.

Beyond simply gracing our screens for the 40th anniversary event, Angie’s presence served as an ideal fit. Moreover, it brought the limelight to none other than Sharon Watts, skillfully played by Letitia Dean, a position she truly deserved.

Among the three original cast members who are still part of the show, Sharon stands out as an emblematic figure in soap opera history. Not only was she raised at the Queen Vic, but she also served as landlady on multiple occasions, making her one of the most authentic soap opera characters ever portrayed.

To put it another way, Sharon Watts might just as well be personified drama – a woman who embodies family life and has gone through an overwhelming amount of hardship, including marriages, affairs, motherhood, and more adversity than many people experience in their entire lives. Remarkably, Sharon continues to persevere, and her ghostly meeting with her deceased mother Angie served as a powerful reminder of this resilience.

Angie herself proclaims to Sharon, “We are fighters, Sharon!”

Using Angie’s appearance as a catalyst, it seemed fitting to have her inspire her tragic heroine daughter to keep struggling and survive.

At that moment, it became incredibly emotional since talking to a deceased parent is like a deeply touching and longed-for realization of a heartfelt desire for many who have experienced loss.

The script beautifully embodied the dramatic yet down-to-earth Angie of times past, making the dialogue by Kevin Rundle and the subtle direction from Lance Kneeshaw worthy of much acclaim.

Ultimately, soaps are consistently evolving to adopt fresh styles and formats, yet some might contend that there have been excessive disruptions in conventional storytelling lately across the major soap operas, as “specialized episodes” and “event weeks” seem to occur frequently, even when skillfully executed.

Over the past few years, EastEnders tends to stick with its usual format more than other soap operas. However, when it deviates, the changes are subtle yet powerful – like the solitary use of a flash-forward for The Six two years back or the recent emotionally charged psychosis storyline for Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden).

This situation seems remarkably similar to the poignant scene where Peggy Mitchell, played by the late Dame Barbara Windsor, met the spectral presence of her dearest friend Pat Evans (portrayed by Pam St Clement), as written by Sarah Phelps. It resonated deeply with their characters, showcasing their resilience and shared history.

Time after time, soaps have demonstrated that they rely heavily on robust female characters, and Angie Watts’ return serves as a vivid illustration of this very truth.

2025-02-20 16:36

Angie Watts’ Shocking Return to EastEnders: A Moment That Left Fans in Tears!

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