Leslie Grantham dead: A look back at Dirty Den's most explosive storylines in Eastenders

Appearing in the series' first ever episode in 1985, Grantham starred as Den Watts - later receiving the nickname "Dirty" after getting his adopted teenage daughter's 16-year-old friend pregnant.

His tumultuous marriage to alcoholic wife Angie captivated the nation and more than 30 million people - at the time over half of the UK population - tuned in to the 1986 Christmas special to watch Den present her with divorce papers.

Grantham first left Albert Square in 1989 after a criminal gang he was involved with, called The Firm, tried to kill him.

Viewers were led to believe he had died, but the character returned to the soap in September 2003, when it was revealed he had faked his death and fled to Spain.

It later emerged that, while in exile, Den had remarried. His estranged wife, Chrissie, played by Tracy-Ann Oberman, joined him in Albert Square but was incensed by his repeated infidelity.

She ended up killing him in the Queen Vic, beating him over the head with a doorstop.

Eventually, Chrissie was jailed for the crime and Den was buried in his original grave next to Angie.

Grantham's final appearance in EastEnders was on the soap's 20th anniversary.

It was confirmed this afternoon that the EastEnders actor had died.

A representative for Leslie said in a statement: “We formally announce the loss of Leslie Grantham, who passed away at 10.20am on the morning of Friday 15th June 2018.

"His ex-wife and sons have asked for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time, and for there to be no approaches to them for information or comment.

"They will not be making any statements to the media. They also ask that no photographs be taken of them in their grief.

"There will be a private funeral which will be attended by close family and friends only."