EastEnders is set to welcome back some legendary faces from the past once again as Mary the punk and Lofty Holloway make another return to Albert Square. 

The two 80s favourites are among six former characters who will be reprising their roles in a forthcoming episode of the soap – and it’s set to be emotional.

We last saw Mary and Lofty back in 2019 when they made a brief return to Walford – but just who are the pair, and why are they coming back for another visit?.

Here’s what you need to know about them…

Who are Mary and Lofty?

The pair made their debut back in 1985, when EastEnders first started.

The characters of Mary and Lofty are played by Tom Watt and Linda Davidson, and are some of the much-loved originals from the soap.

Mary Smith was a punk, with loud eyeshadow and matching extravagant hair. She had a daughter – Annie – who she put in jeopardy due to her drug use.

She left in 1988, heading off on a bus to find a better life.

Lofty Holloway was jilted at the altar by Michelle Fowler, who was pregnant with Dirty Den Watts’ child at the time.

Despite the fact they did eventually get married, they once again split when she aborted their baby together. Lofty’s final episode was also in 1988, when he headed off to become a social worker.

Why are they back and how long will they be there?

They will be back for Dot Cotton’s funeral episode – with Mary and Lofty being among six legendary characters returning for the emotional send-off.

The soap is in the process of paying tribute to the iconic Albert Square resident, following actress June Brown’s death earlier this year at the age of 95.

The pair previously returned to the soap for the funeral of Dr Legg (Leonard Fenton) in 2019, with Tom Watt saying at the time: ‘Doctor Legg is an iconic character so it feels fitting that Lofty should return to say goodbye’.

Colin Russell (Lord Michael Cashman) and his former partner Barry Clark (Gary Hailes) – the soap’s first ever same-sex couple in the late 80s – will also return to the Square.

Disa O’Brien (Jan Graveson), who was cared for by Dot during her one-year stint in the soap back in 1991, come back, as will Dot’s very own step-granddaughter Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa).

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