Leslie Grantham: The Enigma Behind Dirty Den

“Cor, stinks in ’ere, dunnit?” With those seemingly innocuous words, uttered 33 years ago, actor Leslie Grantham inadvertently launched a British television institution. The man who would become synonymous with the shifty publican Dennis ‘Dirty Den’ Watts in the BBC’s flagship soap opera, EastEnders, passed away yesterday at the age of 71, leaving behind a legacy that was as captivatingly complex as the character he immortalised. His life, a dramatic tapestry woven with threads of stardom, scandal, and a dark past, resonated deeply with the nation, making him a household name and a figure of enduring fascination.

When Grantham first landed the role of Den, EastEnders was a fledgling drama, the BBC’s ambitious riposte to ITV’s established Coronation Street. Launched on February 19, 1985, the twice-weekly soap was intended to revolve around the Beales and the Fowlers. However, from the moment Den broke down the door of elderly Reg Cox’s flat, discovering him near death, it was clear that a different narrative force was at play. Grantham, a little-known actor at the time, was trying to turn his life around, carrying the weight of a murder conviction and more than a decade spent in prison.

The Unforgettable 'Dirty Den' Watts: A Television Icon

Less than two years after his debut, Dennis Watts’s place in the television firmament was undeniably secure. Grantham had initially signed for just ten episodes, but the undeniable, crackling electricity between Den and his wife Angie (played by the brilliant Anita Dobson) quickly became the show's driving force. Their tumultuous, love-hate relationship captivated millions, propelling EastEnders to enormous early success and establishing it as a cultural phenomenon.

The Watts family became the heart of Albert Square’s Queen Vic pub, with their adopted daughter Sharon (Letitia Dean, who remains in the show today) completing the iconic trio. Their storylines were legendary, none more so than the infamous Christmas Day 1986 confrontation. Millions tuned in as Angie, beneath her gravity-defying perm, optimistically declared, “Nothing can go wrong, Den, I want this to be the best Christmas we’ve ever had at the Vic.” Her words were barely out before Den dropped his bombshell: he had discovered her faked terminal illness, a desperate ploy to prevent him leaving her for his posh mistress. “Nobody did the dirty on Dirty Den and got away with it,” was the unspoken rule. He handed her a solicitor’s letter, declaring his intention to divorce. “Happy Christmas, Ange,” he sneered, as the dramatic drumbeat of the famous theme tune kicked in. This moment was later voted the No.1 soap moment of all time in a 2004 poll, a testament to the power of their performances and the writing.

Den was a character of many shades: adulterous, belligerent, conniving, and undeniably dastardly. He was at the heart of EastEnders' most gripping storylines, including a scandalous one-night stand with Sharon’s best friend Michelle (Susan Tully), which resulted in an illegitimate daughter. The character’s influence was such that when Grantham decided to leave in 1989, reportedly fed up with other actors’ “non-stop moaning” and preference for opening supermarkets over turning up to work on time, it sent shockwaves through the production. EastEnders creators Tony Holland and Julia Smith reluctantly planned to kill him off, but BBC1 controller Jonathan Powell insisted his apparent murder be left ambiguous. Den was shot and fell into a canal, but no body was found, a decision that ultimately proved prescient.

A Troubled Past: From Soldier to Convict

What made Leslie Grantham's portrayal of Dirty Den so compelling was the public's awareness that his real life was at least as eventful, if not more so, than his alter ego's. Born in South London and raised on a council estate in Kent, Grantham harboured a secret ambition to become an actor from childhood. “You couldn’t tell people,” he once recalled, “They’d think you were a woofter. I used to go to the theatre in Bromley and make out I’d been to the football.” Little did he know, his first steps into acting would be taken behind bars.

In 1965, at the age of 18, Grantham joined the Royal Fusiliers and was posted to Germany. In December 1966, he made a catastrophic decision that would forever alter his life’s trajectory: he attempted to rob taxi driver Felix Reese in Osnabruck. When Grantham threatened Reese with a pistol, the brave cabbie grappled for the gun. During the struggle, the weapon discharged, fatally shooting Reese in the head. Grantham later admitted, “In my panic, I just ran for it.”

Upon his arrest, Grantham claimed he hadn't realised the pistol was loaded and had no intention of harming the driver. This detail, if true, could have downgraded his crime from murder to manslaughter, forming a key part of his defence. However, on April 17, 1967, he was convicted of murder at a court martial in Germany and sentenced to life in prison. He ultimately served over ten years, initially in army detention in Germany, then in British prisons including Wormwood Scrubs, HMP Portsmouth, and finally Leyhill in Gloucestershire.

It was at Leyhill that Grantham found a new path, joining a drama group and appearing in plays. He also realised the necessity of cultivating a new persona, presenting himself as one of the jail's tough guys – a facade, he later explained, adopted for similar reasons to his suppressed childhood acting ambitions: to avoid being perceived as gay. This carefully constructed 'tough guy' act would later serve him remarkably well in his iconic role as Dirty Den, and in subsequent portrayals of gangsters in dramas like the BBC’s *The Paradise Club*.

The Phoenix Rises: Acting Career and Redemption

After leaving prison, Leslie Grantham won a coveted place at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, funding his studies by working as a painter and decorator. It was there he met his future wife, Jane, an actress from a wealthy Australian wine-making family. They married and had three sons, the youngest of whom was born with Down’s syndrome.

Before his career-defining role in EastEnders, Grantham had secured small parts in various productions, including the ITV drama *Jewel In The Crown*, the film *Morons From Outer Space*, and an episode of *Doctor Who*. However, it was his return to Albert Square in 2003 that truly reignited his career and captivated the nation once more. After 14 years, during which his character was supposedly on the run from mobsters on the Costa Del Sol, Den Watts made a spectacular return. 16 million viewers tuned in as the episode closed with his laconic, yet instantly memorable, greeting to his daughter Sharon: “Hello princess.” This resurrection proved Jonathan Powell’s earlier decision to leave Den’s death ambiguous to be a stroke of genius, boosting ratings significantly.

Den’s second stint in EastEnders lasted 18 months, concluding with his definitive demise. This time, it was his on-screen second wife, Chrissie, who finished him off for good, clocking him on the head with an iron doorstop after catching him having another affair. Outside of EastEnders, Grantham also took on other roles. During his years away from Albert Square, he co-hosted the adventure game show *Fort Boyard* with Melinda Messenger, appeared in *The Detectives*, a comedy drama starring Jasper Carrott, and played Colonel Mustard in the game show *Cluedo*. Later, his notable parts included a role in the police drama *The Bill* and as a retired chemist in the Bulgarian TV series *The English Neighbour*.

Scandal, Second Chances, and Final Years

Leslie Grantham’s life, much like his most famous character’s, was not without its share of scandal. In 2004, while performing in panto and allegedly wearing his Captain Hook outfit, he was caught exposing himself online to a woman who turned out to be an undercover reporter. The incident led to a media frenzy, with headlines screaming about “Dirty Den.” The fallout was severe, resulting in his sacking from EastEnders. Grantham later claimed he had attempted suicide as a result of the scandal, highlighting the immense pressure and public scrutiny that came with his fame.

His marriage to Jane, which had endured for 31 years, eventually ended in divorce in 2013. The split left him, by his own admission, homeless, staying in a friend’s spare room. It was his time spent filming *The English Neighbour* that inspired him to set up a new home in Bulgaria. He revealed five years ago his plans to move there permanently once the financial details of his divorce were finalised. “I’m an old man now and want to go somewhere hot. I really enjoyed it there. I had to learn Bulgarian and even Hungarian,” he shared, embracing a new chapter away from the intense glare of British celebrity.

In his final months, Grantham, believed to be single, returned to the UK for treatment for an illness understood to be lung cancer. Friends described him as “gaunt and grey” and reported that he had been living in a friend’s terrace house in London. Despite his deteriorating health, he maintained a positive outlook, telling supporters from the TV world that he had terminal cancer, but had faced it before. Hollyoaks actor Joe Tracini shared a poignant anecdote from Grantham’s final days: “Last week he could barely hold his head up or make a sound. I held his hand for a while, kissed his forehead and told him I loved him. As I left, he bellowed: ‘What, am I f*g dying or something?’”

In February, just months before his death, Grantham made his last public appearance, filming a movie about the Kray twins, due for release later this year. Tributes poured in from his former co-stars. Anita Dobson, who played Angie, expressed her regret at not getting to visit him in hospital to say goodbye, praising him as “the archetypal charming rogue” and always fun to be around. “There was always that look about him that you didn’t know what he was going to do next. That was his ace in the hole,” she reflected. Letitia Dean, his on-screen daughter Sharon, spoke of her cherished memories: “He and Anita looked after me in my early days and showed me the ropes, always with care and kindness. He never failed to make me laugh and I will remember him with love, affection and gratitude for ever.”

The Legacy of a Charismatic Rogue

Leslie Grantham's life was a testament to the power of second chances, the allure of a complex character, and the enduring impact of British soap opera. He always refused to discuss the details of the crime that led to his long incarceration, considering it an issue “between me and my maker.” His candidness about his past, his disdain for pretentiousness in acting, and his somewhat dismissive attitude towards his own fame (“I never watch it. Some of the storylines are half-baked, some are boring,” he once said of EastEnders) only added to his mystique. Yet, it is as Dirty Den that he will forever be remembered, a character so intertwined with his own tumultuous life that the lines between fiction and reality often blurred for the captivated public.

His journey from a prison cell to the bright lights of Albert Square, and then through further public scrutiny and personal challenges, paints the picture of a man who lived life on his own terms, for better or worse. His legacy is not just that of an actor, but of a figure who embodied the very essence of a captivating, flawed, and ultimately unforgettable British rogue.

Dirty Den's EastEnders Stints: A Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions About Leslie Grantham

Who was Leslie Grantham?

Leslie Grantham was a British actor best known for his role as Dennis 'Dirty Den' Watts in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. His life was marked by both significant acting success and personal controversy, including a murder conviction.

What was Leslie Grantham famous for?

He was primarily famous for playing Dirty Den Watts in EastEnders, a character he portrayed from the show's launch in 1985 until 1989, and again from 2003 to 2005. His performances, particularly in dramatic confrontations with his on-screen wife Angie, made him a household name.

What happened to Leslie Grantham's character Dirty Den?

Dirty Den had two exits from EastEnders. In 1989, he was seemingly shot and fell into a canal, with his death left ambiguous. He returned in 2003, revealing he had been on the run. His character was definitively killed off in 2005 by his second wife, Chrissie, who struck him with an iron doorstop.

Did Leslie Grantham go to prison?

Yes, Leslie Grantham was convicted of murder in 1967 for his involvement in the death of a taxi driver in Germany while he was a soldier. He served over ten years in prison before embarking on his acting career.

When did Leslie Grantham pass away?

Leslie Grantham passed away on June 15, 2018, at the age of 71, after suffering from lung cancer. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from co-stars and fans alike.

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