EastEnders fans delighted as Lofty and Mary return to Walford: 'Wish they could come back full time!'

EastEnders fans were left delighted after two familiar faces returned to the Square after decades away.

Lofty, played by Tom Watt, and Mary, played by Linda Davidson, returned to Walford to commemorate the late Dr Legg and comfort his closest friend Dot Branning.

The pair left June Brown’s character stunned as they stood before her in the Queen Vic to pay their respects.

Viewers were made up to see the two original characters back on screen after 30 years on what was the soap's 34th birthday.

One wrote: “Wonderful seeing lofty and Mary back in #Eastenders.”

Another commented: “Mary & Lofty back in #EastEnders. Both looking like they've never been away #bringthemback.”

“It's so great seeing Lofty and Mary back on #EastEnders and all those loved ones remembering Dr Legg,” said somebody else.

The pair returned to the soap opera for a special episode as mourners gathered to say goodbye to Dr Legg, played by Leonard Fenton, who passed away last week.

As well as catching up with some of Albert Square’s many residents, Mary – who has since shed her punk persona – Lofty, and a grown up Annie comforted an emotional Dot in the pub.

The returning duo did not attend the service earlier in the episode, which featured a Jewish funeral to say goodbye to the fan-favourite, who returned to the soap last year for a brief period.

Davidson’s character, who was last seen in 1988, was something of a revolutionary in Walford thanks to her wildchild attitude and controversial storylines.

Lofty left the soap the same year having eventually married Michelle Fowler before heading off for a career in social work.

EastEnders airs Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One