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Why I have to leave EastEnders
By Fiona Cummins Showbiz Reporter
NIGEL Harman (left with co-star Letitia Dean) says he is quitting EastEnders because there is "nothing left" for his bad-boy character to do.
As Dirty Den's son Dennis, he has slept with his adopted sister, cheated on his girlfriend and killed a gangster.
And the TV soap heart-throb, speaking for the first time about his decision to leave, said he had taken Dennis as far as he could.
The Daily Mirror revealed last week that Nigel and Letitia Dean - his on-screen lover Sharon Watts - are both going in the New Year.
He said: "Sharon and Dennis have had such a great run, but what would you do with them next? I could pretty much guarantee we've already done it."
The star, one of the show's best-loved figures, confessed he had been planning it for a while.
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Nigel said: "It was something that was talked about over a period of time between myself and the producers.
"It wasn't a 'chuck all your toys out of the pram' thing. We all came to a mutual decision."
Nigel, who has won a string of TV awards, including Best Newcomer, Best Actor and Sexiest Male, said Dennis and Sharon's storylines had become so linked that one couldn't stay without the other. Letitia, 37, will leave at the same time as Nigel, 32, for a break of around six months.
"I think it would be weird to have one there without the other and we've taken it as far as we can go," he told Heat magazine.
But despite his decision to quit, Nigel is hoping he won't be killed off, paving the way for a return.
"I think it'll be quite juicy but I'm waiting to find out.
"I'd like it to be a happy storyline, like Sharon and Dennis going off around the world.
"Although obviously she'll have to come back on her own going, 'What a b*****d'."
After appearing in Walford two years ago, Dennis shot gangster Jack Dalton and became close friends with villain Andy Hunter.
He has never been far from violence, and had a punch-up with hardman Phil Mitchell.
But he showed a softer side by helping cancer-victim Dot.
His love-life became tangled when he slept with adopted sister Sharon while seeing Zoe Slater. Their first passionate screen kiss - with its overtones of incest - sparked a storm.
They carried out their romance in secret and planned to elope. But Zoe stunned Dennis by telling him she was carrying his baby.
Heartbroken Sharon, who cannot have children, ordered him to stay and fled the country.
Dennis followed soon after when he discovered it was all a ruse dreamt up by Dirty Den.
The actor admitted it was a wrench to leave the BBC soap - and he is not sure what to do next.
He said: "I've got mixed emotions about it all. I'm excited, nervous and sad. EastEnders has been such a big part of my life.
"I have no idea what's next. Maybe I'll open up a hardware shop in Cockfosters," he joked.
Nigel will film his final scenes in November and writers are working on his explosive exit storyline.
His decision to quit marked the end of months of speculation.
He was given time off earlier in the year but came to the decision he had had enough. He has found life in the limelight very tough.
Dennis and Sharon are due to marry on August 29. Police arrive just before the reception to dig up Dirty Den's body.
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R.I.P 
Originally Posted by i_luv_dennis
