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Who are the Watts family on EastEnders and where are they now?

THE Watts family has been part of EastEnders since day one - and they're still bringing plenty of drama.

From Dirty Den and Angie to Sharon and her dramatic love life, the Watts' have kept us hooked on EastEnders for more than 35 years.

The Watts family has been part of EastEnders since day one
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The Watts family has been part of EastEnders since day oneCredit: BBC

But who are the members of the family? And where are they now?

'Dirty Den Watts

Den Watts was killed off twice on the show
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Den Watts was killed off twice on the showCredit: BBC

First appearance: February 19, 1985

Last appearance: February 18, 2005

Status: Dead

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'Dirty' Den Watts was played by Leslie Grantham and the character received his nickname for his philandering and devious antics.

His turbulent marriage with wife Angie dominated early storylines, culminating with the iconic Christmas Day 1986 scene where he served her divorce papers after discovering she had lied about having six months left to live.

He was infamously 'killed off' in 1989 after being shot by The Firm - a criminal organisation he had become mixed up in - while by a canal.

However, he made a shock return in 2003 along with daughter Vicki, son Dennis and later, second wife Chrissie.

He hadn't changed his ways and it culminated in him being bludgeoned to death by Chrissie during the soaps 20th anniversary week.

Angie Watts

Angie Watts was a key character for the first three years of the soap
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Angie Watts was a key character for the first three years of the soapCredit: check copyright

First appearance: February 19, 1985

Last appearance: May 19, 1988

Status: Dead

Troubled Angie Watts was played by Anita Dobson from when the soap first began until 1988.

She was the adoptive mother of Sharon and the alcoholic first wife of Dirty Den.

When Den decided to tell Angie he was leaving her for his mistress, Jan, Angie falsely told him she only had six months to live.

It lead to the epic Christmas Day showdown as mentioned above.

Angie eventually left Albert Square in 1988 for a new life in Spain with her love interest, Sonny.

However, it was later revealed she left Sonny and moved to America before remarrying.

Angie was given an off-screen death in 2002, with Sharon revealing she had a slow painful decline due to cirrhosis of the liver, having also experienced alcohol-related dementia.

Sharon Watts

Sharon has continued to fly the flag for the Watts family
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Sharon has continued to fly the flag for the Watts familyCredit: BBC

First appearance: February 19, 1985

Last appearance: ongoing

Status: Alive

Sharon is the adoptive daughter of Den and Angie and played by Leticia Dean.

Sharon was married to Grant Mitchell, but their relationship with plagued by Grant's violent outburts, and she kept falling into the arms of his brother, Phil.

The storyline - dubbed Sharongate - climaxed in 1994 with Sharon's taped confession being played by Grant at Phil and Kathy's engagement party in the Vic.

Sharon has been left devastated by the death of a number of her loves over the years, including Tom - who died in a fire trying to save evil Trevor - and her husband, Dennis.

The couple got caught up in drama with gangster Johnny Allen, ultimately leading to Dennis being stabbed on New Year's Day and dying in Sharon's arms.

Sharon welcomed their son Dennis Jr off screen while living in America, before eventually returning to Walford in 2012.

Since then, she has had an on-off relationship and marriage to Phil, before having an affair with toyboy lover Keanu Taylor, which lead to the birth of their son, Albie.

Dennis Rickman

Dennis died a tragic death just after marrying Sharon
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Dennis died a tragic death just after marrying SharonCredit: BBC

First appearance: April 14, 2003

Last appearance: December 30, 2005

Status: Dead

Dennis was played by Nigel Harman from 2003 to 2005, and was the son of Den Watts and one of his teenage flings, Paula.

When his dad eventually showed up in Walford, father and son soon found themselves at loggerheads, particularly over Dennis' feelings for Den's adopted daughter Sharon.

As previously mentioned, the couple eventually married and found out they were having a baby together, but Dennis became enemies with the square's reigning crime lord Johnny Allen.

Dennis attacked Johnny after discovering he had throttled Sharon and told her to leave Albert Square, but Johnny survived the attack and got his henchman to Danny Moon to kill Dennis in retribution.

Chrissie Watts

Chrissie Watts ended up killing her husband Den
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Chrissie Watts ended up killing her husband DenCredit: BBC

First appearance: April 29, 2004

Last appearance: December 9, 2005

Status: Alive

Chrissie Watts was played by Tracy-Ann Oberman and was the second wife of Dirty Den.

She arrived in Albert Square in April 2004 and was as devious and scheming as her infamous husband.

Chrissie was central to the major storyline killing of Den once and for all, bludgeoning him to death before burying him in a hole in the pub's cellar - with the help of Sam and Zoe - which was filled with cement the next morning.

Later, Chrissie decided to flee with boyfriend Jake Moon, only to be finally caught at the airport by Sharon and the police.

Chrissie was arrested for killing Den and eventually pleaded guilty in court.

Vicki Fowler

Vicki Fowler is the daughter of Den Watts and Michelle Fowler
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Vicki Fowler is the daughter of Den Watts and Michelle FowlerCredit: BBC

First appearance: May 27, 1986

Last appearance: December 25, 2004

Status: Alive

Vicki Fowler is the daughter of Den Watts and Michelle Fowler, and was conceived during a controversial storyline about teenage pregnancy.

Vicki left Walford with mum Michelle in 1995, before returning eight years later with Scarlett Alice Johnson in the role.

On Christmas Day 2004, all hell broke loose between the Watts family and at one point, Vicki overheard Den telling Sharon that he would never love Vicki like he loved her.

She decided she could not be around a father like that and returned to her mum in America, before it was later revealed she had moved to Australia.

The most recent update came last year when it was revealed Vicki was back living in America, as Sharon went to visit her.

Dennis Rickman Jr

Dennis Jr died just as tragically as his dad
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Dennis Jr died just as tragically as his dadCredit: BBC

Dennis Jr was the son of Dennis Rickman and Sharon Watts.

He was born off-screen after his father was brutally stabbed to death, and spent his first years in America with mum Sharon.

In 2018, Dennis was kidnapped by a gang but was rescued by Keanu Taylor, his mum's lover.

In February 2020, a furious Ian Beale locked Dennis in a room on the lower deck of a boat as many Walford residents celebrated the Vic winning best pub.

Ian had discovered Dennis was responsible for putting his son in hospital, but after the boat crashed, he raced to rescue Dennis from drowning.

After managing to get Dennis out of the room, they headed up some stairs, but the boat rocked and a wave of water flooded the lower decks.

Ian lost his grip on Dennis and he later died of a cardiac arrest from his injuries.

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However, in November 2021, a baby was left on Sharon's doorstep and it turned out to be her granddaughter Alyssa, after Dennis had a one night stand with Jada Lennox when he was just 13.

EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer

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