<P> The character was eventually to bow out on 23 February 1989 in one of the programme's most famous episodes which attracted more than 20 million viewers . After escaping from custody, Den returned to the famous canal (in Alperton) for one last rendezvous with Michelle . The episode ended with Den being shot by a member of the firm (who was carrying a gun concealed in a bunch of daffodils) and then falling into the canal . The scene where Den actually hit the water had to be taped at the BBC's Ealing Film Studios using a water tank, because the waters of the Grand Union Canal were deemed unsafe . When the episode was finished, however, Jonathan Powell, controller of BBC1, requested that the final shot be removed to allow for the possibility of Den returning at a later date . In protest, Tony Holland and Julia Smith had their names taken off the episode's credits . Den's exit ended up being the creators' final contribution to the show . </P> <P> However, after 14 years presumed dead, executive - producer Louise Berridge made the highly controversial decision to reintroduce the character to the series and reunite him with his daughter Sharon, played by Letitia Dean . Grantham has alleged that the producers of EastEnders asked him to reprise the role many times since 1991, but he turned each offer down as he was unhappy with the returning storylines . Subsequent offers between 1995 and 2001 were also rejected because Den's screen family were no longer in the show and Grantham felt that a return at this time would have been little more than a publicity stunt . However, he accepted Berridge's offer to return in 2002 as he approved of the storyline and because Den had family ties within the cast - his adoptive daughter Sharon had returned after six years away, his other daughter Vicki was due to return, and Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman) - the son Den hadn't known existed - was also due to join . </P> <P> The reintroduction of Den was part of a plan by scriptwriters to fight back against the continued success of ITV's long - running soap, Coronation Street . The character made his "dramatic return" in an episode that aired on 29 September 2003 . On - screen, Den walked into Sharon's nightclub, Angie's Den, and greeted his stunned daughter with the words "Hello, princess ." More than 16 million viewers watched his long - awaited homecoming, attracting 62% of the viewing public; it has been voted as the favourite TV soap comeback in an AOL online poll of over 23,000 viewers, taking over a third of the vote (37%). </P> <P> Although the character's return was popular with many viewers, the British press branded the plot unrealistic and felt that it questioned the show's credibility . A severe press backlash followed after actor Leslie Grantham was outed in an internet sex scandal, which coincided with a swift decline in EastEnders ratings . Newly appointed executive - producer Kathleen Hutchison then made the decision to axe the character and he was killed off in a high - profile storyline, which saw his body buried in the cellar of The Queen Vic . </P>

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