Dirty Den 'Enders return was 'a mistake'

[carmelina]

EastEnders executive producer Diederick Santer has admitted that bringing back Dirty Den five years ago was a mistake that damaged the show.

Leslie Grantham's character was brought back from the dead in 2002, but Santer believes the storyline was too unbelievable and damaged the soap.

He said: "There was a phase in EastEnders when it became too accelerated and a bit unbelievable. The return of Dirty Den in 2002 says it all.

"He was dead. You can't bring him back. It's a Bobby Ewing in the shower moment. It undermined the show and did lasting damage."

Santer, who was hired to help improve ratings for the long-running programme when figures slumped to 3.9 million last year, has also identified the loss of key characters as having a harmful effect.

He said: "Two or three years ago the show lost Shane Richie, Jessie Wallace, Kacey Ainsworth and Letitia Dean. They were the heart of the show.

"It can't be underestimated what a challenge it was to have those characters move at once. I think we're still recovering."

[Skylace]

I have to agree with that 100%. While I am seeing the show improve I think bringing Den back was a huge mistake. They couldn't do much about the loss of those characters as the actors had decided to leave but I think if they were to bring at least a few of them back it would help.

Right now I am pleased with the show. It has been better but it seems to be on the right track.

[Kezza]

Guess I'm in the minority, but I enjoyed the Return of Dirty Den -- especially since it brought in the characters of Tracey Watts and Dennis Rickman. I fell out of my chair when I heard Dirty Den say "Hello, Princess" to Sharon at Angie's Den!

[Skylace]

I can't say I hated it. It was fun to see Den and of course Chrissy and Dennis were wonderful. But I think it was a mistake still because of the way the show went. That being said, the "hello Princess" was a great moment.

[faceless]

I enjoyed it too - without that there wouldn't have been the whole doorstop murder and all that carry-on.

[eefanincan]

It was an ok storyline..... I don't know as it was just bringing back Den though that led the show down the wrong path for awhile. In anycase, I think it's improving now.

[Lostinthestates]

I guess they are not planning on bringing him back this time

[Skylace]

[Kezza]

[tec]

I enjoyed the re-incarnated Den, and storyline, somewhat, but the new Den was nowhere as interesting a character as the Angie & Den era.