EastEnders legend Anita Dobson has spoken about her shocking return to the BBC One soap for its 40th anniversary episode.

The actor first appeared as Angie Watts in EastEnders‘ very first episode on February 19, 1985. She left in 1989 and her character was confirmed to have died off-screen in the 2010s.

40 years to the day since the BBC One soap premiered, Dobson returned as Angie during Wednesday’s (February 19) episode.

She appeared as a hallucination from her daughter Sharon Watts as she drifted in and out of consciousness lying in the rubble of the burning Queen Vic.

Speaking about her brief comeback, Dobson said: “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.”

She said she kept the secret from everyone except for husband Brian May, although it was more difficult after it was confirmed she was involved in the retrospective documentary as everyone started asking.

“When they initially asked if I would come back when I was filming for the documentary,” she said. “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.”

She added she was “honoured” to be such an important part of EastEnders history, although admitted she “had no idea at all” it would become an institution.

“All we really thought at the time was that we had a really good job that paid well for quite a long time,” she said.

Reminiscing on her favourite moments from back in the day, she concluded: “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.”

Angie’s return wasn’t the only surprise of the night, as EastEnders also announced a second interactive vote to name Sonia Fowler’s baby in addition to choosing if Denise Fox should be with Jack Branning or Ravi Gulati.