EastEnders villain set for dramatic return to soap ‘from beyond the grave’
The star has returned to Walford from Australia to attend Monday’s funeral for her uncle Martin, brother of Michelle who had an affair with the baddie
The legacy character with notorious parents is coming back(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Eastenders supervillain ‘Dirty’ Den Watts is set for a shock return from beyond the grave in Albert Square. The evil womaniser will be channelled through his love child Vicki Fowler, played by Alice Haig.
She has returned to Walford from Australia to attend Monday’s funeral for her uncle Martin, brother of Michelle who had an affair with the baddie. Alice, 40, said: “She’s very normal, but I think there’s room in the future for her dad to make ‘appearances’ in her…” It wouldn’t be the first time Dirty Den – played by late actor Leslie Grantham – has come back from the d.e.a.d.
He starred in the BBC series from the start before being supposedly k.i.l.l.e.d off after five years in 1989. But he made a surprise comeback in 2003 after it was discovered it was a rival gangster who had been whacked and not him. He lasted until 2005 before being murdered again – and now Alice believes he will live again through his daughter.
Alice believes Den will live through his daughter(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Vicki was born after Den cheated on his wife Angie (actress Anita Dobson) with 16-year-old Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully).
Alice said: “Chris Clenshaw, who was the executive producer when we started, said, ‘I’m really interested in her parents and where she has come from,’ so you want elements of Michelle’s down-to-earth grittiness and Dirty Den’s lying.
“I think she also has a real twinkle in her eye which I imagine comes from her dad, as well as her ability not to tell the whole truth.”
Vicki was born after Den cheated on his wife Angie(Image: BBC)
Alice teased that, just like her dreadful dad, Vicki is going to find herself caught in “sticky situations”.
She added: “I’m lucky as we’ve not seen Vicki for over 20 years, so she feels like a blank canvas.
“I only found out I was playing Vicki a few days before filming – it was super-secret.
“I didn’t know anybody on my first day, so I was so nervous. But Letitia Dean, who plays Sharon Watts, very sweetly came to my trailer to introduce herself, and that made me feel so comfortable.
“When they gave me the part, I was absolutely gobsmacked. I was born the same month as the show started in 1985, so I’ve watched it all of my life.
“I’m buzzing to be here, and to play Vicki Fowler – a legacy character, who has such cool parents – is pure joy.”
