Exclusive: 'Enders Lofty to guest in 'Doctors'

Former EastEnders actor Tom Watt will make a guest appearance in an episode of Doctors alongside familiar soap face Sue Jenkins.

The 53-year-old, who played the role of Lofty Holloway between 1985 and 1987, takes on the role of idle layabout Ray MacGyver, while Jenkins portrays his terminally ill screen wife Brenda.

Ray, who happily spends more time at the local watering hole or in the local police cell than with his family at their home on the local caravan park, knows his wife is ill, but is unaware of the true extent of her illness.

Meanwhile, both Ray and Brenda are forced to deal with the news that their wayward daughter Carly - played by Sue Jenkins' real-life daughter Emily Fleeshman - is pregnant by the local wannabe gangster.

Producer Fiona Pandelus said: "'The MacGyvers' is a brilliantly told story about a ramshackle family confronting very real issues of separation and loss. Capturing both the humour and the uncertainties of these characters is no mean feat and so we're absolutely thrilled to have such a superb cast in Tom Watt, Sue Jenkins and her real-life daughter Emily Fleeshman."

She added: "Together they bring the perfect blend of comedy and emotion to this cracking story by Paul Matthew Thompson - stand by to laugh and cry!"

Jenkins has previously appeared as barmaid Gloria Todd in Coronation Street, Jackie Corkhill in Brookside and Emmerdale's Bonnie Drinkwater. She previously appeared in two episodes of Doctors, titled 'Without You' and 'If You Don't Know Me By Now'.

The episode, entitled 'The MacGyvers', was filmed earlier this month and is due to transmit on Thursday, July 30 on BBC One.