Letitia Dean and Nigel Harman quit

[Treacle]

13 August 2005
WE QUIT
EASTENDERS EXCLUSIVE Dennis and Sharon to leave Albert Sq
By Fiona Cummins, Showbiz Reporter

EASTENDERS favourites Dennis Rickman and Sharon Watts are to leave Albert Square after their bizarre wedding and a murder probe.

Actors Nigel Harman and Letitia Dean have revealed they want to quit in a double blow for the BBC. Nigel, 32, is going for good while Letitia, 37, wants to take a long break. A show insider said: "Nigel met with the show's producers and decided he has taken Dennis as far as he can."

He will film his final scenes in November and will be written out in an explosive New Year storyline.

Letitia is expected to leave at the same time. Their exit is a hammer blow to the BBC because Dennis and adopted sister Sharon are at the centre of a gripping love story.

The source said: "Writers are now planning Dennis' exit storyline.

"He has been a fantastic asset to the show and is one of the most popular characters. But he had made up his mind that the time was right for him to walk away."

Sharon and Dennis marry on August 29 and the BBC hoped their big day would claw back lost viewers.

Police arrive just before the reception to dig up Dirty Den's body.

Den, Sharon's adoptive dad and Dennis's real one, has been murdered and buried under the Vic.

Nigel and Letitia have both been off the show but were lured back in June. He was given a £150,000 a year deal and Letitia £175,000. She joined when EastEnders started in 1985 and has had four stints on the soap.

Nigel first appeared in 2003 and was named Best Newcomer at the National TV Awards.

But he has admitted doubts over the show. He said: "On and off I've sat there and thought, 'God, this is naff.' It's a double-edged sword.You can come out and do a Martin Kemp or you can never work again."

Link: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_obje...name_page.html

[alan45]

Oh dear. The end of Shannis. It should not come as any surprise that this happened. They will probably be tempted back again next year in a sensational storyline after discovering the grass is not as green as they thought. ~Its a pity the producers based so much of the show around them

[Jade]

They've only been back five mins!!!

[lilnick]

They've only been back five mins!!!

I agree. They have been in and out of the show for a while. I accept that it may be a gruelling schedule but it is a little unfair on EE bosses who are just getting it back on it's feet and Sharon's departure will obviously limit the storylines with Phil and Grant. I can see that they think the grass is greener but Letitia has tried other things and EE is a steady,well paid role for her. Nigel has probably got other things lined up ( Bond would be good ) however
his acting ability is limited and he should consider how lucky he is to get this part as he has only done it for a short while and could easily end up out of work and back at Sainsburys!!

[Johnny Allen]

I agree. They have been in and out of the show for a while. I accept that it may be a gruelling schedule but it is a little unfair on EE bosses who are just getting it back on it's feet and Sharon's departure will obviously limit the storylines with Phil and Grant. I can see that they think the grass is greener but Letitia has tried other things and EE is a steady,well paid role for her. Nigel has probably got other things lined up ( Bond would be good ) however
his acting ability is limited and he should consider how lucky he is to get this part as he has only done it for a short while and could easily end up out of work and back at Sainsburys!!

I doubt Nigel has got much lined up, he's not the Best Actor around, he will probably come crying back to Eastenders in a few years when his career flops (that is if he doesn't get killed of)

[Dr. Tangliss]

I know, judejude.

[Layne]

I'm so upset to hear about this but i'm waiting till the beeb confirm it!
It says that toish is having a long break but Nigel for good, Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[BlackKat]

To be honest, I thought this might happen -- and I suppose if they leave at the same time there's a chance of Shannis being happy for once.

I hope it's not true, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is. It seems every week there's news of another character leaving.

[Alisha]

I'm gutted. They haven't even been back for long.

I knew eventually they would leave and do other things but I didn't expect it to be so soon.

Good luck to them both and I really do hope they have a happy ending and an explosive exit. They deserve it.

[squarelady]

I wouldn't be so sure about this yet, this all looks a bit dodgy to me.