How on earth was Den Watts so popular with fans? Surely even for the 80's he must have been considered a villain?

The way he cheated and treated his wife was borderline mentally abusive and the cheek of him to tell Angie that she had to be faithful was downright brazen. Who knew that a telephone could interfere in a marriage so much... Jan Hammond was a huge character before we had even seen her.

He seemed to find it amusing that she was turning into a lush and his temper was very unattractive, Taking advantage of a school girl surely was the last straw with fans?

I'm not surprised Sharon Mitchell is so neglectful of Denny Rickman with her upbringing.

When Den returned I liked the fact that Chrissie Watts was almost the opposite to Angie. What a shame the characters are both dead.

Angie might not be. No body, and she probably wanted a fresh start, rehab, insurance money. Phil will probably see her next at one of his AA meetings.

I would laugh but it is likely a possible outcome. That is to say if Phil Mitchell will be alive this time next year...

Angie was such a martyr and doormat though it was hard to feel sorry for her. Not saying that Den wasn't an utter pig though.

BIB - Well, yes, but since when were villains not popular?

I'm into episode 65 and that I must admit that this is becoming apparent.

I thought with times being different that general opinion may have been very different.
Does that answer your "question?"

Spot on. Pretty much like JR and Sue Ellen Ewing in Dallas.

I wish I was around to have seen that. I hope the actresses stint on Hollyoaks will live up to expectations. I wonder what the reaction was like then?

Women were still very much considered second class citizens at that time, even by many of their own sex. I'd say that many put up with violence and abuse because to be without a husband was unthinkable. So that was the audience they were playing to....not nice when you think about it.

Den was a git but very entertaining to watch. They replicated his character with Max but I always preferred the former despite disliking his behaviour to Angie.

Thanks, I noticed the way the characters talk about the characters that aren't British born in the show. Downright racists ten next showing their support and "Nasty" Nick Cotton was meant to be the bad guy.


Wow I never noticed that, they have an awful lot in common don't they.

British soap hadn't seen such a love to hate character, therefore he was always going to be popular.

When he screamed at Lofty Holloway and then slapped Sharon and Angie... that was pretty shocking.

The characterisation of Den from 85-89 was superb. Shame they ruined him in his second stint.

I never knew him first time round, what was t that you didn't like about his return?

Seeing clips of them. It may be 80s acting but the pair of them are appalling.

I thought that about most of the cast and I agree I think it was just the style at the time.

I suspect Den was so popular because he was a multi-faceted character; he actually felt like a real person with flaws and shortcomings. He was clever, quick-witted, and I think ultimately had a good heart (he cared about the community and his friends) but at the same time was exceptionally cruel to his wife. But let's not pretend that Angie was completely innocent either.


Both Leslie and Anita excelled at OTT camp drama. It was their 'style' and was very much of the time.


The writers didn't really know what to do with him. They should have put him back in the Vic straight away, but instead he wandered around the Square with his hands in his pockets for an entire year. They made Den sleazy when he was never like that before. On more than one occasion his behaviour towards Sharon was creepy and it was definitely implied that his feelings towards her were inappropriate. The Zoe blackmail story was also the final nail in the coffin. The writers clearly had it in for him after webcam-gate. They trashed the character.

What was the fan reaction to Leslie Grantham being revealed as a real life killer?
The web cam fiasco - was it really worth a sack worthy offence? Slagging off the cast members really was a daft move though if it was true... what was it he said again?

His position was untenable after the webcam stuff. He called Shane Richie egotistical, Jessie Wallace a dog, said Kim Medcalf was thick, that Wendy Richard was a misery guts.

Sadly all those sound rather accurate (at the time anyway.) Just the impression I get of each of them.

I always wanted to see "Dirty" Den Watts vs Phil Mitchell. I would imagine they would have made Phil win eventually. Eastenders traditions and all that lol.

I would disagree with that, they were both strong characters both very flawed but whilst both did awful things they also had redeeming features, that was what made them both popular not because that is how things were at the time .

Well as I'm relatively young I didn't see him during his first stint but I seen loads of clips on YouTube and I was so excited that he was alive. He wasnt great when he rturned but he got killed off too early, some better writing and a better storyline and he could of been great again.

Den vs Phil happened in 2003 and Den was victorious. Phil Mitchell may be King in the eyes of the writers now and always wins no matter who he is up against but not back then. Back in 2003 the returning Den Watts was the writers 'Golden Boy' and was untouchable. It wasn't until 2004 webcam scandal that they decided to trash Den's character before killing him off.