Sharon and Den "to quit"

Eastenders favourites Dennis Rickman and Sharon Watts will quit Albert Square after an explosive storyline which will see their wedding reception desc

11:14 13 August 2005

EastEnders favourites Dennis Rickman and Sharon Watts will quit Albert Square after an explosive storyline which will see their wedding reception descend into a murder hunt, the Daily Mirror reports.

Dirty Den's son and his adopted sister will reportedly leave Walford behind in the New Year after their father's body is discovered buried beneath the Queen Vic.

An EastEnders mole told the Mirror that actor Nigel Harman, 32, has told the show's producers that he has taken his character Dennis "as far as he can".

It is expected that Letitia Dean, 37, also wants to take a break from the soap and will leave at the same time.

The EastEnders veteran joined the soap in 1985, while co-star Nigel entered the show in 2003 and was subsequently named Best Newcomer at the National TV Awards.

"Writers are now planning Dennis' exit storyline," the source told the Mirror.

"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."

Nigel and Letitia both took a break from EastEnders earlier this year but the show's producers lured them back to the Square in June.

Viewers will see Den and Sharon's happy day end in disaster on August 29th, when police arrive at the Queen Vic to dig up Dirty Den's body.