Anita Dobson, 75, took on the role of Angie back in 1985, starring alongside Leslie Grantham as 'Dirty' Den Watts, her on-screen husband as they became the first landlord and land lady of the Queen Vic.
But this wasn't the only drama surrounding Angie – on Boxing Day 1986, a staggering 30.15 million people tuned in to see Den slap Angie with divorce papers on the stairs of the Queen Vic.
More recently, Anita portrayed Eunice Lytton in the 2025 edition of Father Brown, and had a busy year last year with roles as Janine in Generation Z (2024), Janet in Curfew (2024), Mrs Flood in Doctor Who, and Mrs. Mentis in the film This Time Next Year.
Reflecting further on his health, Brian couldn't help but sing Anita's praises, saying: "So when you get that bad, you're just grateful to be alive at the end of it and its thanks to Anita that I am, she's been there the whole way through it.
Despite only being on the show for three years, Anita created a lasting legacy with Angie and took on some of the most dramatic storylines in soap history.
