Another shock return left EastEnders fans in meltdown on tonight as Kat Slater returned after being off screen for recent episodes. The character made a comeback during the live episode of the BBC soap, for the 40th anniversary celebrations despite being AWOL until this evening.
"OMG KAT IS HERE #EastEnders40 #EastEnders #EELive #EE40," one viewer penned on Twitter (X) as the live show aired. "KAT SLATER HAS FINALLY APPEARED #eelive #eastenders," another penned as a third wrote: "Oh finally there’s Kat!! She’s been gone for days not hours." One quipped: "About time you showed up Kat and Patrick! #Eastenders.".
It follows the shock cameo by legend Anita Dobson who returned to the BBC soap on Wednesday night, reprising her role as the late Angie Watts. After becoming trapped upstairs in the pub, Angie's daughter Sharon Watts began to lose consciousness - with the Walford resident hallucinating Angie speaking to her.
The iconic character told her to start screaming for help and that it wasn't her time just yet. "You're not giving up on us, are you Sharon?" Angie asked her. "Hello, darling! I've missed you so much.". As Sharon tells her that she's cold, Angie replied: "I know baby and I wish I could just put my arms round you and give you a great big hug but it's not time for us to be together yet darling.".
When Sharon admitted that she's scared, Angie replied: "We're all scared aren't we? Look at me - spent my whole life being scared. But you've got to keep fighting, Sharon.". Spurred on by an imaginary Angie's words, Sharon began calling for help - with Grant rushing in to rescue her out of the burning building. Anita, 75, last appeared on EastEnders in 1988 as Angie, one of the original soap characters who has been involved in some of the most iconic episodes in EastEnders history.
Anita appeared on EastEnders: 40 Years on The Square earlier this week, stopping by the documentary that marks the soap's birthday milestone. The return left viewers in complete shock, with it kept top secret until the episode aired that evening. EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.* Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.
