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Den And Angie Watts
Den Watts is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by actor Leslie Grantham. He became well known for his tabloid nickname, "Dirty Den". Den was the original landlord of The Queen Victoria public house from Albert Square who first appeared when the show debuted on 19 February 1985. From then onwards, the character had a turbulent marriage with his alcoholic first wife Angie (Anita Dobson). In 1986, Den discovers that Angie lied to him about having six months to live and got revenge by giving her divorce papers on Christmas Day 1986, which was watched by over 30 million viewers. Den continued his close relationship with their adopted daughter Sharon ( Letitia Dean). Den soon became involved in storylines that mostly contributed to the character's magnanimous and "bad boy" persona, such as Den impregnating 16-year-old Michelle Fowler ( Susan Tully) – which resulted in a long-standing feud with Michelle's mother Pauline Fowler ( Wendy Richard); t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leslie Grantham
Leslie Michael Grantham (30 April 1947 – 15 June 2018) was an English actor who played "Dirty" Den Watts in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. He was a convicted murderer, having served 10 years for the killing of a West Germany, West German taxi driver, and had significant press coverage resulting from an online sex scandal in 2004. Early life Grantham was born in Camberwell, London, the son of Adelaide (''née'' Flinders) and Walter William Grantham (1915–1998). He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers regiment of the British Army in 1965, aged 18. Murder conviction Grantham was soon posted to West Germany, where he quickly found himself in debt to army colleagues. He resorted to criminal activities in his attempt to clear the debt. On 3 December 1966, Grantham attempted to rob a taxi driver, Felix Reese, in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, by threatening him at gunpoint and demanding money. In a struggle between the two men, Grantham shot Reese, who died from a gunshot wound to the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anita Dobson
Anita, Lady May (born 29 April 1949), known as Anita Dobson, is an English actress and singer. She is best known for playing Landlord, landlady Angie Watts in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' from the show's inception in 1985 until 1988. She achieved a top five hit in the UK singles chart in 1986 with "Anyone Can Fall in Love", a vocal version of the theme music of ''EastEnders'', and briefly reprised her role for the show's EastEnders 40th Anniversary Week, 40th anniversary in 2025. Dobson's other television roles include Cath in the 1989 ITV Network, ITV sitcom ''Split Ends (British TV series), Split Ends'' and Mrs Flood, later revealed to be the Rani, in ''Doctor Who'' (2023–present). In 2003, she was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress, Olivier Award for Best Actress for the Royal National Theatre, National Theatre production of ''Frozen (play), Frozen''. She has also starred in the West End (theatre), West End as Mama Morton in the musical ''Chicago ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Boyde
William Boyde (born March 1950) is a British actor, best known for his work on the British soap opera ''EastEnders'' (1986–1989, 1992, 2017). He was educated at Cheltenham College where he appeared as an extra in the film If...which was filmed at the school. His character James Willmott-Brown became one of the soap's most renowned villains after raping barmaid Kathy Beale ( Gillian Taylforth) in 1988, and then terrorizing her in 1992. In September 2017, Boyde made an unannounced return to ''EastEnders'' and eventually departed on 28 December at the conclusion of his storyline - in which he was revealed as the boss of Max Branning ( Jake Wood) in their vengeful plot to destroy the square. Boyde has also appeared in '' Just William'' (1977); the BBC drama '' Secret Army'' (1978); '' Bergerac'' (1981) and the detective series '' Dempsey and Makepeace'' (1985). In 2001 Boyde played Tim the pub landlord in the Johnny Vaughan cult sitcom '' 'Orrible''. In 2004 Boyde guest sta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Willmott-Brown
James Willmott-Brown (also credited as Willmott-Brown and Mr Willmott-Brown) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by William Boyde. The character originally appeared in Albert Square from 1986 to 1989, where he established the square's second pub – "The Dagmar" – and instigated a feud with his business rival Den Watts (Leslie Grantham). Willmott-Brown then developed a romantic obsession with his employee Kathy Beale ( Gillian Taylforth), which sparked the events of the character raping her in 1988. Following his imprisonment for Kathy's rape, Willmott-Brown made a brief comeback in 1992 after he moved back into Albert Square; however, he was forced to leave by Kathy's former husband Pete ( Peter Dean) just weeks later. After an absence of 25 years, Willmott-Brown returned on 22 September 2017 as the show's hidden main antagonist upon being revealed to be the boss of Max Branning ( Jake Wood) in their vengeful plot to destroy the squar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jane How
Carolyn Jane Onslow How (born 21 December 1950) is an English actress with a range of television, film, and stage credits. She is best known for her role as Jan Hammond, the mistress of Den Watts in ''EastEnders''. She appeared in the programme regularly from 1986 to 1987 and also made brief return appearances in 2002 and 2003, the latter leading up to Den's return to the show. Career After training at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, where she won the Rodney Millington Award, she spent several years in provincial theatre. Other roles include two series of ''The Spoils of War'', '' War and Remembrance'', '' A.D.'', ''Anglo Saxon Attitudes'', ''The Cazalet Chronicles'', ''Zoya'', ''Love in a Cold Climate'', and playing another famous mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles, in the TV movie '' Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After'' (1992). How has also appeared in '' The Citadel'', ''Midsomer Murders'', '' Judge John Deed'', ''Byron'', '' Bad Girls'', '' Love Soup'', ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jan Hammond
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' in 1986, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by the show's co-creator Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith. The first character to be introduced during the year is #John Fisher, John Fisher (Dave Dale), a drag queen hired for The Queen Victoria pub. #Jan Hammond, Jan Hammond (Jane How), the long-term mistress of Den Watts (Leslie Grantham), was introduced in January. March sees the first appearances of The Firm mobster #Brad Williams, Brad Williams (Jonathan Stratt), Dot Cotton's (June Brown) husband Charlie Cotton (Christopher Hancock) and new brewery area manager #James Willmott-Brown, James Willmott-Brown (William Boyde). The newborn daughter of Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully), #Vicki Fowler, Vicki Fowler (Emma Herry), was introduced in May. In June, Judith Jacob and Pam St. Clement made their debuts as health visitor #Carmel Jackson, Carmel Jackson and Pat But ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Altman (actor)
John Clarkson Stewart (born 2 March 1952), known as John Altman, is an English actor and singer. He was among the original cast members of the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', playing Nick Cotton, appearing in the first episode in February 1985 and remaining on the show as a recurring character. His character was killed off in the 30th anniversary episode of the show which aired in February 2015. Altman has also appeared in several films, television series and stage productions. In 2010, he became the new frontman of the band Heavy Metal Kids following the death of former frontman Gary Holton in 1985. Early life Altman was born in Reading, Berkshire, elder son of Cecil Clarkson Stewart (1921–1995), a first-class clerk at the Bank of England, and Tina Florence (1920–2016), daughter of actor Johnnie Schofield. He and his younger brother William were raised in Herne Bay, Kent. Career Altman made his acting debut in the 1979 film '' The First Great Train Robbery'' where he pl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nick Cotton
Nick Cotton is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' played by John Altman (actor), John Altman on a semi-regular basis from the soap's debut episode on 19 February 1985. Altman has stated that his initial exit was due to producer Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith demanding he was written out after he opposed a decision to make his character gay.John Altman, AKA Eastender's Nasty Nick: It's almost like the Taliban. You can't say what you like. , GB News, Sep 13, 2021 After Smith's departure, the character made numerous brief or more protracted stints until his onscreen death in February 2015, which was written to coincide with the 30th anniversary of ''EastEnders''. Nick's primary function was as an antagonist, a drug-user ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peter Dean (actor)
Peter Dean (born 2 May 1939) is a British actor, best known for his roles as Pete Beale in ''EastEnders'', Jeff Bateman in ''Coronation Street'' and Sergeant Jack Wilding in '' Woodentop''. Early life and education Dean was born in Hoxton, East London, and was an acquaintance of the Kray twins while he was growing up. He went to primary school in Holloway and technical school at King's Cross, where he learned plumbing and bricklaying. He began drama lessons at 14 when his grandmother, the music hall artist Lilly Randall, realised that he was dyslexic. As a boy, Dean worked on a fruit and veg stall in Chapel Market in North London. Career Dean decided on a career in acting after actress Prunella Scales witnessed him rehearsing Shakespeare in Petticoat Lane Market and advised him to take drama classes. Aged 16 he studied under Joan Littlewood and has been an actor since he was 18. Dean's breakthrough performance was playing criminal 'Jack Lynn' in '' Law And Order'' (1978). He ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pete Beale
Pete Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Peter Dean (actor), Peter Dean. He makes his first appearance in the programme's first episode, on 19 February 1985. The character was introduced by Tony Holland, one of the creators of ''EastEnders''; he was based on a member of Holland's family. Pete is featured in the soap for eight years as the local fruit and veg trader of Albert Square; he is a member of the original focal clan in the serial, Beale family, the Beales and Fowlers. Pete is portrayed as a macho and somewhat insensitive individual who struggles to cope with emotion. Pete was axed from the soap in 1993 and departed in May that year after over eight years on-screen. The character was killed off-screen later that year, following Peter Dean (actor), Peter Dean's public criticism of the BBC. Creation and development Background and casting Pete Beale was one of the original twenty-three characters invented by the creators of ''Eas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wendy Richard
Wendy Richard (born Wendy Emerton; 20 July 1943 – 26 February 2009) was an English actress, best known for her television roles as Miss Shirley Brahms on the BBC sitcom ''Are You Being Served?'' from 1972 to 1985, and Pauline Fowler on the soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 1985 to 2006. Despite being known for her Cockney accent, Richard was born in Middlesbrough. After a childhood in which her father died by suicide, Richard worked in department stores to pay her drama school fees before appearing regularly on-screen from the early 1960s. She played Joyce Harker in '' The Newcomers'' from 1967 to 1969. Richard then appeared in two '' Carry On'' films. In the television series ''Dad's Army'', she was Private Walker's girlfriend, before being cast as Miss Brahms in ''Are You Being Served?'' appearing in all 69 episodes from 1972 to 1985. She also reprised the role in the sequel series '' Grace and Favour'' in 1992 and 1993. After ''Are You Being Served?'' ended, Richard star ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pauline Fowler
Pauline Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders''. She was played by actress Wendy Richard between the first episode on 19 February 1985 and 25 December 2006. Pauline was created by scriptwriter Tony Holland and producer Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith as one of ''EastEnders' ''original characters. She made her debut in the soap's first episode on 19 February 1985, and remained for twenty-one years and ten months, making her the second-longest-running original character to appear continuously, surpassed only by her nephew Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). Since then, she has been surpassed by Letitia Dean who plays Sharon Watts. Pauline has featured in archive footage twice since her departure: in 2015, celebrating the show's EastEnders Live Week, 30th anniversary, and in 2025, celebrating the show's EastEnders 40th Anniversary Week, 40th anniversary. Pauline is a member of the Beale family. Her storylines focus on drudgery, money worries, and fami ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
