Den Watts
| Den Watts | |||||||
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| Duration | 1985–1989, 2003–2005 | ||||||
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Dennis 'Den' Watts was a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by actor Leslie Grantham, and known to viewers as Dirty Den.
Den and Angie
Den was married to Angie (played by Anita Dobson) and together they managed the Albert Square pub, The Queen Victoria. Den was notorious for his extramarital affairs and shady dealings, which earned him his nickname. His conquests included his adopted daughter Sharon's best friend Michelle Fowler (then sixteen, who bore him a daughter, Vicki), Jan Hammond and Paula Rickman, who bore him a son, Dennis.
In one of EastEnders' most famous storylines, Den tried to leave his wife Angie for his mistress Jan. However, in a special two-hander episode that featured only Den and Angie (and a window cleaner), Angie managed to dissuade Den from leaving him by announcing that she had only six months to live, a lie that completely took Den in. In an effort to cheer up his 'dying' wife, Den took Angie to Venice, only to learn on the Orient Express that Angie was faking her illness. Den then served divorce papers on Angie on Christmas Day 1986, which was seen by an audience of 30.15 million viewers in the UK. EastEnders also added to the whole story concept by playing The Human League's "Don't You Want Me" in the background.
Angie eventually left the Square for Spain in 1988.
First demise
Den became involved with the underworld organisation known only as The Firm. He was forced to take on various tasks for them, including flying to Morocco to pick up a mysterious package, and acting as the puppet manager of Strokes wine bar (formerly Henry's), which was a front for an illegal gambling den.
Strokes had a rival wine bar on Albert Square in the form of The Dagmar, run by smooth yuppie James Willmott-Brown.
As a reprisal for Willmot Brown's rape of Den's best mate Pete Beale's wife Kathy, Den used his underworld connections to arrange for the Dagmar to be firebombed - elliminating his rival establishment. This angered the Firm's bosses as it drew attention to the illegal goings-on at Strokes. Den was forced to take the blame, and in December 1988, he was remanded in custody at Dickens Hill prison,where he encountered Nick Cotton.
For several months during 1988, we saw Den only as an inmate of Dickens Hill. He survived beatings and quickly rose through the prison ranks to become 'No.1' of his landing.
Before leaving prison for his trial for arson in February 1989, Den had his wallet mysteriously swapped for another one.
On his way to court, Den's taxi was intercepted by The Firm and he was kidnapped overnight. He later escaped and went on the run. Den contacted Michelle, and arranged to meet her by the canal, where he promised to turn himself in. After Michelle left, Den walked by the canal and spotted a man walking towards him seemingly taking out something from his jacket. Den walked the other way and - notoriously - was shot by a man with a gun concealed in a bunch of daffodils. Although Den was not seen shot on screen, viewers heard him fall into the Walford Canal.
The canal was subsequently searched, but no body was found, although Den's jacket was retrieved from the water and traces of blood on the embankment matched his. In 1990, Sharon found Den's distinctive signet ring with a 'D' initial for sale at the local market, which had been fished out of the canal by an angler. This led to the police dragging the canal for a second time, and the discovery of a body, which Sharon identified (from a distance) as her father's.
However, eagle-eyed viewers would have spotted that Den was not wearing his signet ring when he was shot.
Back from the dead
In September 2003 Den returned to the series, claiming that he had been on the run in Spain since 1989 to protect himself and Sharon from The Firm. The body Sharon had identified as his was explained to have been that of former Firm boss Mr. Vinnicombe, murdered as punishment for Den's escape and dumped - with a hint of irony - in the canal, his teeth having been bricked out to prevent dental identification.
This followed plotlines explaining that 'The Firm' was now that of Jack Dalton, played by Hywel Bennett. Dalton had gained control of The Firm from Vinnicombe and ordered Den's death. He revealed to Den's long-lost son Dennis - though not yet to viewers, as his words were drowned by a passing train - that Den had survived the shooting. Dennis murdered Dalton in revenge, and tracked down Den's posh former mistress Jan Hammond, who admitted helping Den escape the country after he had come to her for help, and planting Den's ring (which had been in his wallet) on the body to fool the police.
Den made his return on 29th September 2003; his first line was 'ello Princess', referencing his nickname for Sharon. His return was watched by more than 16 million viewers and was a big ratings success for EastEnders that year.
It was revealed he owed the local video shop £9,000 because in 1988 he rented out Porky's II and never returned it, even though he was supposedly dead. The hapless Billy Mitchell's attempt to recoup this video rental fine was met with sneering derision and a curt dismissal from Den's presence. The nightclub 'Angie's Den' (formerly E20, after Walford's fictional postcode) was named after the Watts' by their daughter Sharon.
Upon Den's return, he met his long-lost son Dennis - who was conceived during a fling with young woman called Paula Rickman, the daughter of one of his friends, in 1974 - and intervened decisively in his ongoing feud with Phil Mitchell. Den made Phil a generous offer for The Queen Vic and talked him into funding a warehouse robbery to be carried out by Den and Dennis in order to raise the cash. On Den's instructions, Dennis got himself arrested for affray on the night of the robbery, tricking Phil into taking his place rather than losing the money. Once they had broken into the premises, Den absconded with the escape ladder and the lion's share of the loot, helpfully explaining to Phil that he was avenging the latter's attacks on Dennis and Sharon. Inevitably, Phil was arrested and charged with armed robbery, but escaped in December 2003 and sought revenge on Christmas Day. Den convinced Phil of the futility of attacking him, paying him off with half the stolen money to support him while he was on the run.
Dennis and Sharon
Dennis had a passionate fling with Sharon on the eve of Den's return but she rejected him as soon as their father appeared. They secretly resumed their affair while Den was away on business for a few months. Once Den returned and realised the truth he expertly manipulated Dennis to split them up. Although he betrayed some scruples by entreating Dennis not to "make me do this" under his breath, Den went on to insinuate that "some sick nonce" had sexually abused his son while he was in a children's home, driving Dennis into a psychotic rage during which he hit Sharon accidentally when she tried to stop him attacking Den. Den later apologised for this, offering Dennis forgiveness and readmission into the family only if he ended his affair with Sharon. Dennis then started a relationship with Zoe Slater and tried to put Sharon out of his mind.
Chrissie
While Den was in Spain during the years he was presumed dead, Den was running a bar with second wife Chrissie until he left her, sold the bar and returned to Walford without giving her a penny. She arrived in Walford supposedly seeking her share of the money but Den soon won her back and got her a job as a hairdresser in his mistress Kate Mitchell's salon. Den then started an affair with Kate and assured her that his marriage to Chrissie is just a business arrangement. When Chrissie discovered Kate's affair with Den she hacked off Kate's hair and smashed up the salon but eventually forgave them both, although she threatened to kill Den if he ever strayed again...
Back behind the bar
Den then set about reacquiring the Queen Vic and blackmailed the Mitchell clan's corrupt lawyer Marcus Christie into telling Sam Hunter, owner of her fugitive brother Phil's estate, that Phil needed money and had instructed her to sell all his businesses. This enabled Den to buy the Queen Vic from the panicking Sam at a knock down price, evict the Moon family on Christmas Eve 2004 and move in his own family in time for a Christmas dinner they would never forget. Den was finally back in the Vic as landlord 16 years after he first sold the pub to Frank Butcher.
Den, Chrissie, Sharon, Vicki, Dennis and his girlfriend Zoe gathered around the table only for Dennis and Sharon to announce that they had resumed their affair. A disgusted Den attempted to split them up again by convincing a distraught Zoe into faking a pregnancy, knowing Dennis would never leave his own child like Den had deserted him. The plan worked and Dennis was forced to stay with Zoe but Den's plan was only half successful; while begging Sharon not to leave he said he didn't love Vicki half as much and she overheard. Both of Den's daughters left for America together and he never saw Vicki again.
Despite winning back his beloved pub, Den developed insomnia and eventually conceded that the bricks and mortar meant nothing to him without Sharon. He had successfully broken up Dennis and Sharon but instead of trying to build a relationship with the only child he had left in Walford, Den seemed to be seeking revenge on Dennis for stealing Sharon's affections. Zoe urgently needed to get pregnant to maintain their deception so Den exploited her desperation and fear of losing Dennis to extort sex from his son's girlfriend. Dennis eventually caught Den and Zoe in bed together, Den greeted him with a gloating smirk and the line, "Hello son" and Dennis left the Square to search for Sharon.
Ironically, Zoe discovered that she had fallen pregnant to Den now that it was too late to pull the wool over Dennis's eyes. This happy news gave Den a new lease of life, representing an opportunity for him to finally get fatherhood right, but Dennis and Chrissie had the last laugh. Before leaving, Dennis had told Chrissie the truth about Den's relationship with Zoe and, feigning ignorance, Chrissie talked Zoe into aborting Den's baby.
This was only the beginning of Chrissie's plans for revenge; she teamed up with Zoe and Sam Hunter to exact their final revenge. The tabloids dubbed them "the three witches of Walford". On February 18 2005, the 20th anniversary of EastEnders, the trio conspired to confront Den together and shame him into signing the Vic over to them with the threat of exposure. Naturally Den laughed this off, justifying himself by claiming to have shown them their weaknesses and challenging them to take responsibility for being so needy, gullible and stupid as to fall for him and his scams. He declared that exposure of his true character held no terror for him as; "There's no-one left in Walford I give a toss about", only for Sharon to step out from the shadows behind him. Unbeknownst to her confederates Chrissie had only used the confrontation as a way to provoke Den into confessing his sins, destroying him in the eyes of the only person he had ever loved. The disgusted Sharon announced "My Dad's dead", and fled Walford.
Second demise
Den walked back into the Vic and Chrissie taunted him about him knowing now how it feels to lose what you love most. Sharon's rejection drove Den into a violent rage as he attacked Chrissie, repeatedly smashing her face into a fruit machine. Zoe defended Chrissie by hitting him over the head with an iron dog-shaped doorstop belonging, ironically, to his oldest surviving enemy Pauline Fowler. Sam couldn't find his pulse so she and Zoe ran off panicking as Chrissie told them to get ready to cover up the murder. She gazed down at Den and said, "I may not have been the first woman in your life, Den... but I will certainly be the last!" Den seemed to have cheated death yet again as he woke up, grabbing Chrissie's ankle and lunged for her throat, but she hit him again with the doorstop, killing him instantly. Chrissie let Zoe think she had murdered Den but Sam had secretly witnessed Chrissie's blow from the shadows.
Den's last words, "You'll never get me out the Vic!", proved appropriate as the Three Witches encased his corpse in concrete under the cellar of his pub, but he still casts a long shadow over the Square. As Sam pointed out to Chrissie; "He'll get his revenge. He always does. And when did being dead ever stop Den Watts before?".
Beyond the grave
In June 2005 the happily reunited Sharon and Dennis marched into the Vic, and Dennis's first words were "Where's Den?". Chrissie told them Den had run off with another woman. They found it strange that Den would leave so suddenly after going to so much trouble to buy back the Vic. Sam vied with Chrissie for the Vic but soon realised Chrissie was planning on selling the Vic and fleeing Walford. Sam took to drink and tried everything possible to stop Chrissie from getting away with murder. Eventually on 29th August a drunken Sam exhumed Den with a pickaxe on Dennis and Sharon's wedding day in the hope that Chrissie would finally get arrested for Den's murder. However Sam was the police's prime suspect, forcing her brothers Grant and Phil to return reunited in October 2005 and ally themselves with former rivals Sharon and Dennis. Thanks to a CCTV confession from Johnny Allen's nightclub obtained by the Mitchell brothers Chrissie was eventually arrested and charged for Den's murder. At the end of the storyline it seemed that Den had the last laugh as he was still causing trouble from beyond the grave.
Quotes
- Cor, stinks in 'ere, dunnit? [The first ever words said on EastEnders]
- [Spotting blood on his shirt after breaking up a fight]: My shirt... look at my bleedin' shirt!
- [After Angie threw a glass of wine at him]: Careful Ange, that could've hit me!
- [Holding up his and Angie's divorce papers]: This, my sweet, is a letter from my solicitor telling you that your husband has filed a petition for divorce. It also tells you to get yourself a solicitor pretty damn quick. Happy Christmas, Ange!
- [As Angie prepares to leave for Spain]: Come on Ange, don't keep the man waiting - and DON'T THINK I didn't know all the details of your sordid little plan weeks ago because I did and what's more I've been to see my solicitor and this time you ain't getting a penny out of me because everything's mine. You got that? Mine!!
- [...Cont'd]: Oh! Got you a going away present! A bag of barley sugar for the flight.
[Throwing the barley sugar in the cab]: Have a nice time! Come on driver! Double speed to the airport!' [Banging the Taxi twice]
- [To Frank Butcher]: I would've thought someone who'd been around the block like you have should know better, Frank - don't you EVER lay a finger on me again!
- [To James Willmot Brown, the day after the Dagmar fire]: This is the end Virgil!! There's nowhere to run! [...] I have a great desire to break your neck, alright!! But I'm not gonna risk doin' time for the likes of you. The only reason [Kathy] was there, is because YOU - You perverted little jerk - were her boss, she had no choice and you used that. Never, EVER make an excuse for what you did again. You're guilty and you're gonna pay, and if I had my way, you would've paid last night! [...] If I was you I'd run and keep on running because the next time I see you I'm gonna kill you!
- This ain't my wallet!!
- [To Michelle Fowler before being shot]: Be lucky...
- [To Sharon when he returned to Walford after fourteen years of being thought dead]: 'Ello, princess
- [To Ian Beale]: You look worse than me and I've been dead fourteen years!
- [To Phil Mitchell after framing him for armed robbery]: You are exactly where I want you! [...] This is for Sharon, and for Dennis.
[Throwing the loot down to him]: Oh and here's a little something from Lisa!!!
- [To Ian after the latter hit him]: I always said to Pete those boxin' lessons were a waste of time!
- [Sarcastically]: Do you know, whenever I meet a new woman I think, 'Will Dot and Pauline like them?' Oh they will, fantastic, I'll go out with them then!
- You'll never get me out of The Vic!! [Den's final words]
Trivia
- Den was originally going to be called Jack.
- The 2006 episode of Doctor Who entitled "Army of Ghosts" features a scene where Peggy Mitchell tells the ghost of Den to "get outta my pub!" as the only spirits that will be served are vodka, whisky and gin. Leslie Grantham is not seen in this episode.
Family
- Wife: Chrissie Watts
- Adoptive daughter: Sharon Rickman
- Daughter: Vicki Fowler
- Son: Dennis Rickman (deceased)
- Grandson: Dennis Rickman Jr.