Sharon’s Painful Reunion With Zoe Slater

EastEnders never shies away from revisiting old wounds, and Sharon Watts was confronted with one of the most painful chapters of her past when Zoe Slater stepped back onto the Square. Their reunion was filled with animosity, rooted in betrayal and tragedy. Zoe had once been tied up in the downfall of Sharon’s adoptive father, Den Watts, and was also entangled in Sharon’s complicated love story with her adoptive brother — and eventual husband — Dennis Rickman.

For long-time fans, Dennis remains an unforgettable figure, but newer viewers may be asking: who was Dennis Rickman, and why does his name still echo through Walford?

Dennis Rickman’s Explosive Arrival

Introduced under executive producer Louise Berridge, Dennis Rickman came into EastEnders as Sharon discovered she had a long-lost half-brother. Fresh out of prison, Dennis made his presence felt immediately, clashing with Phil Mitchell and seducing both Sam Mitchell and Kate Morton.

His ties to Walford’s criminal underworld ran deep. Raised under the shadow of gangster Jack Dalton, Dennis eventually broke free by killing him, only to later learn that his father Den Watts was alive. This revelation reshaped his world — and set the stage for one of the soap’s most infamous love affairs.

A Forbidden Love Story With Sharon

Though Dennis and Sharon were siblings by adoption, their bond quickly deepened into romance. Their passionate affair scandalized the Square, and even Den himself. Wanting to secure a relationship with his father, Dennis ended things with Sharon and turned to Zoe Slater instead.

But their love couldn’t stay buried. As Dennis prepared to leave for America with Sharon, Zoe announced she was pregnant. Her claim, however, was a lie — one engineered by Den, who pushed Zoe into a desperate scheme to keep Dennis by her side.

Betrayal and Den’s Murder

Zoe’s deception spiraled into disaster. When Dennis uncovered that Zoe had slept with Den in a bid to become pregnant for real, he exposed the betrayal to Den’s wife, Chrissie. That revelation set off the chain of events leading to Den’s notorious murder in the Queen Vic’s cellar.

Zoe became part of the trio — alongside Chrissie and Sam Mitchell — who plotted to cover up the crime. But guilt consumed her, and when Chrissie twisted the truth to make Zoe think she had delivered the fatal blow, Zoe broke down. Eventually, she fled Walford for Ibiza, leaving Sharon and Dennis to pick up the pieces.

Happiness and Tragedy Collide

After years of turmoil, Dennis and Sharon finally got their happy ending. They married, and Sharon soon discovered she was pregnant. For a brief moment, it seemed like the couple would build the family they always dreamed of.

But Dennis’ violent past caught up with him. His feud with gangster Johnny Allen escalated to a deadly level. Johnny threatened Sharon, then warned her that unless she left Walford with Dennis by New Year’s Day, her husband would die. Sharon convinced Dennis to run, but Phil Mitchell stirred the pot, manipulating him into seeking revenge on Johnny.

Dennis brutally attacked Johnny, leaving him half-dead. But before Johnny collapsed, he ordered his men to strike back.

Dennis’ Final Moments

As the New Year rang in, tragedy struck. Dennis was stabbed by Johnny’s henchman and stumbled toward Sharon. In his final breath, he whispered, “We did it,” a bittersweet acknowledgment of the child they were expecting. He died in Sharon’s arms, leaving her widowed and heartbroken.

Why Dennis Rickman’s Legacy Lives On

Though Dennis’ life ended in 2005, his presence still lingers in EastEnders. His romance with Sharon remains one of the soap’s most iconic love stories, remembered for its passion, scandal, and heartbreak. Every time Sharon faces her past — whether through Zoe’s return or reminders of Den’s death — Dennis’ memory resurfaces, a reminder of how much the character shaped her life and the Square itself.