Leslie Grantham’s life was full of ups and downs, with the actor hitting the big time as ‘Dirty’ Den Watts on EastEnders, before being sacked from the soap after a webcam scandal.
With EastEnders approaching its 40th anniversary in February, the soap has been embracing nostalgia by reintroducing several beloved characters in recent months.
Fans have enjoyed the return of familiar faces such as David Wicks (Michael French), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Chrissie Watts), and Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer).
However, these recent comebacks pale in comparison to the show’s most dramatic return plot, which occurred in 2003 when producers decided to resurrect arguably the most iconic character in EastEnders history. The return of ‘Dirty’ Den Watts, who was presumed dead since 1988, made headlines and boosted ratings significantly.
Sadly for Leslie Grantham, the actor who portrayed Den, this comeback marked his final appearance on the show. His second stint ended in scandal, leading to a decline in his career.
In 2004, a newspaper published explicit photos of Leslie taken via a webcam from his EastEnders dressing room. Den was subsequently written out of the show in early 2005, meeting his end for the second time after his wife Chrissie hit him on the head with an iron doorstop and this time, there would be no miraculous return from the dead.
Leslie, who previously appeared in The Bill after leaving the popular soap in 2005, sadly passed away from cancer in 2018 with hardly any money to his name. Reports indicate that the actor spent his final years living in a friend’s spare room following the end of his over three-decade marriage to Jane Laurie, leaving him ‘virtually penniless.’
According to the Daily Mail, Leslie had the foresight to arrange and pay for his own modest funeral, relieving his family of the financial burden. His estate included a small stake in a business valued at less than £23,000 and a modest home in Bulgaria.
After factoring in ‘complex taxes and legal fees,’ it seems his three sons, whom he shared with Jane, would inherit very little.
A source close to Leslie during his final years revealed, “Leslie experienced significant money troubles in the past several years, and worrying about it negatively impacted his health. In fact, the stress from his financial situation likely accelerated his decline, as he was already very frail.”
The same source also shared details about Leslie’s funeral arrangements: “He paid for the entire event and left specific instructions regarding his wishes. An average funeral costs around £4,000, and he made sure everything was taken care of.”
Currently, Leslie’s legacy continues through his son Daniel Laurie, who is known for his role as Reggie Jackson in the BBC series Call The Midwife.
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