Den Watts

Name: Den Watts
First Appeared: 19th February 1985
Last Appeared: 18th February 2005
Played by: Leslie Grantham

Den Watts, affectionately (or not so affectionately) known as “Dirty Den,” was born Dennis Alan Watts on 11 July 1946. Growing up in Walford, Den quickly found himself rubbing shoulders with the wrong crowd, making friends with future gangland members. Despite his flirtations with crime, Den married his school friend Angie Shaw in 1968 and settled into life at The Queen Vic. But old habits die hard. Den’s womanizing ways led to multiple affairs, one of which resulted in the birth of his son Dennis Rickman in 1974 – a secret kept from Den for decades.

Den and Angie’s marriage was nothing short of a soap opera rollercoaster. Angie, desperate to keep Den, spun a tale about having six months to live, which Den naively believed. This led to Den’s iconic revenge when he served Angie divorce papers on Christmas Day 1986, uttering the unforgettable line, “Happy Christmas, Ange.” Post-divorce, Den dabbled in running the Vic solo and rekindled his criminal activities, which saw him getting involved with The Firm, a notorious East End gang. When an arson attack Den orchestrated went south, The Firm turned on him. To save his life, Den handed himself to the police, but even prison walls couldn’t keep him out of trouble. After multiple escape attempts and a dramatic shooting by a canal, Den was presumed dead—only to re-emerge years later.

In 2003, Den’s son Dennis unearthed the truth about his father’s survival, leading to Den’s dramatic return to Walford. This return was far from peaceful, reigniting a fierce rivalry with Phil Mitchell. Den’s schemes and manipulations continued as he plotted to regain control of The Vic, blackmailing and outsmarting his adversaries. Yet, his personal life was no less chaotic. He tried to sabotage the romantic relationship between his children, Sharon and Dennis, under the guise of moral outrage. His turbulent marriage with Chrissie Watts, whom he met and married while in hiding in Spain, also unravelled due to his infidelity.

Den’s manipulations ultimately led to his downfall. He attempted to use Zoe Slater in his schemes against Sharon and Dennis, resulting in a web of deceit that left him vulnerable. In a heated confrontation in The Vic, Den’s violent tendencies resurfaced, and he was fatally struck by an iron doorstop wielded by Zoe, with Chrissie delivering the final blow. The trio buried him in The Vic’s cellar, but Den’s death continued to wreak havoc. Chrissie’s deception was eventually exposed, leading to her arrest and imprisonment.

Den Watts’s legacy in Albert Square is one of unforgettable drama, betrayal, and iconic moments. His storylines kept viewers on the edge of their seats, and his larger-than-life presence made him a staple of EastEnders lore. Though he met a grisly end, Den’s influence lingered long after his departure, cementing his status as one of the most memorable characters in the show’s history.