Dennis Rickman’s name has come back into the picture in EastEnders, and it brings nothing but bad memories for Sharon Watts and Zoe Slater. The two women share a bitter past with him, tied up in family secrets, fake pregnancies, and Den Watts’ death. Their history with Dennis never really went away, and it explains why their clash feels so heavy now. Keep scrolling to know more.
Who Was Dennis Rickman?
Nigel Harman joined EastEnders as Dennis Rickman in 2023. His return was connected to the return of “Dirty” Den Watts. He brought the Watts family back into the heart of the Square. Sharon had discovered that she had a half-brother. When Dennis walked out of prison, everything around him changed.
Dennis was very dangerous and unpredictable. He was also an enemy of Phil Mitchell. He also created more ruckus when he seduced Sam Mitchell and Kate Morton. Both women were close to Phil, which angered him more. He also broke away from his former boss, Jack Dalton. He killed him and also learnt a shocking truth about his own family.
However, things took an ugly turn when Sharon and Dennis grew closer. They were half-siblings, leaving the audience shocked. Dennis and Sharon were madly in love. However, Sharon’s father was against their relationship. He wanted to separate them from each other in any way. His decision then opened the door for Zoe Slater.
Sharon, Zoe And The Heartbreak That Followed In EastEnders
Dennis wanted to build a bond with Sharon’s father, Den. However, when things seemed messy, he ended his relationship with Sharon. He then quickly turned to Zoe. Zoe didn’t want to share Dennis with anyone and desired to keep him all for herself. However, she quickly realised that Dennis still had feelings for Sharon. She then claimed that she was pregnant to keep him hers. It was clear that Zoe had been lying, but Dennis believed her and chose to stay with her. He then broke Sharon’s heart and sent her away.
It was later discovered that Den was behind all these plans. Dennis discovered Zoe in bed with his father, felt betrayed, and left them both. Zoe got tangled in Den’s downfall. She also took part in the cover-up after Chrissie killed Den, along with Sam Mitchell. She then left for Ibiza and lashed out at Chrissie before leaving the Square.
Dennis and Sharon reunited, married, and were soon thrilled by Sharon’s pregnancy. But darker things were waiting ahead. Dennis soon got engaged in a feud with Johnny Allen. Sharon had asked Dennis to leave Walford for their baby’s sake. However, Phil Mitchell manipulated him and asked him to stay. Dennis then attacked Johnny, and Johnny was injured in the fight.
However, on New Year’s Eve 2005, Dennis was stabbed by Johnny’s men. He somehow managed to get to Sharon. His final words to her were, “We did it,”. It was a reference to their unborn child. He later died in his arms. And that’s how his chapter ended in the soap. For more EastEnders spoilers and updates, keep following Soap Opera Daily.