Acclaimed actress Anita Dobson has revealed she turned down a lucrative offer to appear on ITV's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! at the end of 2025, stating there is "not enough money in the world" to convince her.
Reality TV is a firm 'No' for the stage and screen veteran
The 76-year-old star, famed for playing Angie Watts in EastEnders and recently unveiled as The Rani in Doctor Who, was approached by producers to join the likes of Aitch, Kelly Brook, and former co-star Shona McGarty in the Australian jungle. She flatly refused the invitation.
"They did ask me and I said No. I would never," Dobson confessed. "There is not enough money in the world to make me go on that programme. It's having to eat and do all those stupid things and being stuck with the same people all the time that you didn't choose to go on holiday with. No. I couldn't do it."
A landmark year of iconic roles and tightly-kept secrets
Her decision meant missing out on what would have been the crowning moment of a remarkable year. In February 2025, she made a surprise return as the late Angie Watts in EastEnders' 40th-anniversary episode, appearing to her on-screen daughter Sharon, played by Letitia Dean.
Months later, in May, she sent Doctor Who fandom into a frenzy when her character, the mysterious Mrs Flood, was revealed to be the legendary Time Lord villain, The Rani. Dobson admitted keeping the secret, shared only with her husband, Queen guitarist Brian May, was a challenge.
"I had to keep so many secrets last year. It's been ridiculous," she said, before teasing another clandestine project. "I have got something coming up. I have got a part. It's not like Mrs Flood but it's popping in and out of a series."
From Stepney to stardom: A life chosen by the stage
Born in Stepney, East London, Dobson's path to acting was set at just four years old after a visit to a Hackney pantomime. "I did the whole show with the actors on stage," she recalled. "My grandfather said to my mum 'You wanna watch her. She has got the sawdust in her blood'. And this was at four years old."
After drama school, her big break came in 1985 with the role of Queen Vic landlady Angie Watts. The 1986 Christmas episode, where 'Dirty' Den served her divorce papers, captivated a record 30 million viewers.
Reflecting on her time in Walford, she said: "I loved playing Ange so much... The scripts were so good in those early days. We didn't have to think... we just were it!"
Her personal life became intertwined with rock royalty when she met Brian May in 1986, marrying in 2000. She has been his steadfast support through health scares, including a minor stroke in 2024. May, she revealed, has renewed his interest in Doctor Who since her casting, often suggesting: "They should bring The Daleks back."
When asked if she'd return as The Rani, her answer was immediate: "Just give me a call."
A home bird who shuns competitive pressure
Despite her showbiz profile, Dobson describes herself as a "home bird." She cherishes quiet Sundays for cooking and relaxing, but rules out shows like Celebrity MasterChef due to the pressure. "I don't like somebody looking over my shoulder watching me all the time. It would drive me mad," she explained.
The one reality show she did embrace was Strictly Come Dancing in 2011, lasting nine weeks, because it involved learning a new skill.
With a career spanning over seven decades, she remains philosophical about missed opportunities. "I have never been jealous of anyone," she advised fans. "Keep working! Do the best you can with everything that comes your way... Concentrate on what you have."
