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When EastEnders began in 1985, Den Watts - played by Leslie Grantham - took centre stage as the Queen Vic's roguish landlord.

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His relationship with alcoholic wife Angie was stormy, but there were happy times too.

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Den's best friend was always loyal and faithful - Roly the dog.

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Den was devoted to his teenage daughter Sharon - he would call her "princess". She recently returned to the soap.

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His affair with Sharon's best friend, Michelle Fowler, rocked the square and brought baby Vicki into the world.

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The last we saw of Den was an ill-fated walk by the canal in 1989. We heard a gunshot and a splash, and then silence...