List of East Enders Characters (1994) - Doreen Ellis

Doreen Ellis (legally Burtle), played by Olga Lowe, is a former acquaintance of Nellie Ellis (Elizabeth Kelly) — the woman who Nellie's husband, George, had left her for. Doreen contacts Nellie in November 1994 to inform her that George has died, and invites her to his funeral in Eastbourne, where they had lived for many years. Nellie refers to Doreen as "the biggest tart in the East End" and she decides to go to the funeral just to embarrass Doreen.

Nellie is most annoyed to discover that George and Doreen have an upmarket house and a daughter, Louise (Cate Fowler), because George had always refused to have children with her. After the funeral, Doreen approaches Nellie and invites her back to her house for the wake. They reminisce about George, but Nellie's bad memories of him aren't shared by Doreen, and it turns out that they had a happy and fulfilling life together. Doreen gives Nellie George's old wedding ring from when they married, having found it in his sock drawer. Nellie is momentarily touched to discover that George had kept it after all these years.

Doreen feels extremely guilty about taking Nellie's husband away from her. Before Nellie returns to Walford, Doreen meets her at her hotel to apologise for all the hurt she has caused. Despite hating Doreen for many years, Nellie realises that she actually likes and admires her. Doreen offers Nellie a photo of George, which is refused. Doreen then tells her that she doesn't mind if Nellie contests George's will, as she is still legally his wife and she was only ever a mistress — even though Doreen goes by the name Ellis, she and George had never married. Nellie promises that she won't.