EastEnders star Linda Davidson has admitted it was 'bonkers' returning to the role of 'Punk Mary' after 30 years away, as she reunites with Tom Watt's Lofty for Dr Legg's funeral.
Speaking on Monday's Lorraine the former actress, 54, told Christine Lampard that her role was originally little more than a silent cameo, while Tom, 63, said on This Morning it was 'right' that the character return.
It comes as Mary and Tom will be brought back together in Walford as they both attend the funeral of original soap favourite Dr Legg, who left viewers in tears as he passed away in Friday's show.
Back! EastEnders star Linda Davidson has teased her 'bonkers' return to Albert Square, as she returns to the soap with Tom Watt's Lofty (right) for Dr Legg's funeral
Linda told Christine that she was excited to return to EastEnders after three decades away, with Mary heading back to Walford following Dr Legg's death last week.
She explained: 'It was totally bonkers, 30 years had passed but it just felt like nothing. I don’t act anymore and the Creative Director John Yorke phoned me up and said ''would Mary go and be in the congregation at the synagogue with no lines'' and I said ''oh that would be a lovely tribute.''
'And then he phoned me back and said we've given her a couple of lines. and then I got the scripts and they've given me loads of scenes.'
Throwback: Linda, 54, told Christine Lampard on Lorraine that she was originally only set to appear in a silent cameo, as she reprised her role as 'Punk Mary' (right in 1985)
Open: She also admitted that when she signed up for the role, none of the cast knew that EastEnders would become such a TV institution
Looking back on Mary's stint on the Square - where she was every inch a woman of the 80s East End with her punk look - Linda added that they never expected to the soap to grow into the TV institution it is today.
'We were all contracted for six months and the BBC called it a bi-weekly drama, so we didn't know we were in a soap until all the press went out, all of a sudden they started calling it a soap and we said oh my god we're in a soap!' she said.
'She was a fantastic character to play and she was really well written, she came about because [creator] Tony Holland was walking in the East End and he saw a young woman pushing a pram with a mohawk and a miniskirt.
'It was such a poignant image of a young woman with such an aggressive look but such love for her child and so she created the character based on that image.'
Stand-out: Linda also revealed that her character was based on a real-life punk mother that the soap's creator Tony Holland saw while walking through the East End
Big switch: Since leaving the role Linda added that she has given up acting to pursue a career in technology and website development
Passionate: The star also admitted she wouldn't rule out reprising her role on the soap again
Chat: She said: 'I absolutely loved it, but my current fantasy is that Annie her daughter goes back into it full time, and Mary pops back in for a cup
