Kellie Bright has revealed the EastEnders cast ‘had no idea’ Anita Dobson was going to reprise her role as Angie Watts for the soap’s 40th anniversary on Wednesday.
The actress, who plays Linda Carter, 48, opened up on the show’s best-kept secret as she took to Instagram Stories.
Wearing a black, grey and purple jumper, Kellie reflected on the episode and confessed that she was blown away when Anita appeared on her screen.
Actress Anita, 75, played the Queen Vic’s first landlady from the show’s very first episode in 1985 before bowing out three years later.
And to celebrate the soap’s 40th year anniversary, she made a brief cameo in the hour-long special with a heart-wrenching scene with her onscreen daughter Sharon – 37 years after she last played the iconic character.
Discussing the moment, Kellie said: ‘So just like many other people, I watched 40th anniversary episode tonight and there she was in all her glory!’

Kellie Bright, 48, has revealed the EastEnders cast ‘had no idea’ Anita Dobson, 75, was going to reprise her role as Angie Watts for the soap’s 40th Anniversary on Wednesday

Anita played the Queen Vic’s first landlady, Angie Watts, from the show’s very first episode in 1985 before bowing out three years later (pictured in the 40th anniversary)
She continued: ‘I had no idea and I posted that picture today of me and Anita Dobson that Angie Watts was going to make an appearance. I am blown away. I hope you loved tonight’s ep [sic]. I bloody did haha.’
Kellie was referred to a snap she shared hours earlier of her and Anita posing for a sweet snap in the Queen Vic during the filming of the new episode.
The pair appeared elated about the reunion as they hugged one another and flashed a pair of huge smiles.
Alongside the picture, she penned: ‘What a moment! Linda Carter and Angie Watts together at last’.
Anita’s character, Angie, famously died off-screen of alcohol poisoning in 2002 but she returned in the form of a vision for her daughter Sharon – played by Letitia Dean.
In the poignant scene, Angie visited Sharon her and begging her to scream for help, where she lay trapped under a broken staircase.
The emotional scene saw Angie looking like she hadn’t aged a day, as she sported her famous brown curls and red lipstick.
She told her injured daughter: ‘You’re not giving up on us are you Sharon? Hello darling. I’ve missed you so much.
‘I wish I could just put my arms around you and give you a great big hug. But it’s not time for us to be together yet darling.’

And actress Kellie, who plays Linda Carter on the show, 48, opened up on the show’s best-kept secret as she took to Instagram Stories

Wearing a black, grey and purple jumper, Kellie reflected on the episode and confessed that she was blown away when Anita appeared on her screen

To celebrate the soap’s anniversary, Anita made a brief cameo in the hour-long special with a heart-wrenching scene with her onscreen daughter Sharon (pictured with Kellie on set)

Sharon – played by actress Letitia Dean – saw a vision of her mother Angie visiting her and begging her to scream for help, where she lay trapped under a broken staircase
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Sharon admitted she was scared and her mother replied: ‘We’re all scared aren’t we? I mean look at me, spent my whole life being scared. But you’ve got to keep fighting Sharon.’
A weak Sharon confessed: ‘I need you’ causing Angie to become teary-eyed as she said: ‘Me? No, you don’t need me, because I’ve been watching over you and let me tell you, you are doing just fine on your own.’
She then pleaded with her daughter: ‘But you’ve got to be strong for me now Sharon, do you understand me?
‘You’ve got a lot of life yet to live. Don’t throw it away. Don’t waste it like I did.
‘So don’t give up, do you hear me? You mustn’t give up, because we don’t give up do we?
‘We are fighters Sharon. So come on my darling use that voice and you start screaming for help.’
As Sharon began to call out for help, Angie smiled through her tears and cried: ‘Go on Sharon go on! Louder! That’s it baby, keep screaming. Yes, that’s my girl’ before fading from view.
And viewers watching at home were left ‘screaming’ at the shock cameo, taking to X to admit they were ‘shook to the core’ and had ‘goosebumps’ at seeing Angie again, branding it the ‘tv moment of the year’.

The emotional scene saw Angie looking like she hadn’t aged a day, as she sported her famous brown curls and red lipstick (pictured on soap in 1980s)
They wrote: ‘i can’t believe we had an anita dobson cameo in 2025, i am truly shook to the core… best thing i’ve ever seen’; ‘ANGIE WATTS OH MY GOOD LORD’.
‘The nation screamed’; ‘Chris Clenshaw really did say “let’s make it legendary”. WHAT A PLOT TWIST TO SEE ANGIE WATTS.’
‘OMG! Angie!!!!! Dreams really do come true! I’m so damn happy she’s back for their 40th to the day episode!’; ‘She hasn’t aged a day and still a powerhouse of an actress’.
‘What a genius way of bringing back Angie Watts!! The wonderful Anita Dobson!’; ‘Amazing cameo that totally made sense for the moment. Bravo.’
”ANGIE WATTS, I PRAYED AND I WON’; ‘I bet they thought all their Christmases had come at once when Anita Dobson agreed to come back and do that cameo!’; ‘That Sharon and ghost Angie scene was perfect’.
‘Angie Watts back from the dead! I am shaking’; ‘I love how Angie hasn’t aged a day with that iconic wig plonked back on her head. I love Ghostenders!’
Speaking about her return to Walford after all these years, EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw said: ‘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.
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
And viewers watching at home were left ‘screaming’ at the shock cameo, taking to X to admit they were ‘shook to the core’ and had ‘goosebumps’ at seeing Angie again, branding it the ‘tv moment of the year’
‘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.’
While Anita admitted she had worked very hard to keep her return a secret, only spilling the beans to her Queen rocker husband Brian May.
She said: ‘I obviously told Brian, 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!’