Former EastEnders star Leslie Grantham currently 'fighting for his life' in hospital

Former EastEnders actor Leslie Grantham is fighting for his life in hospital.

Grantham, 71, is, according to the Sun, desperately ill in hospital after he returned to the UK from his Bulgaria home.

A spokesperson told the newspaper: ‘It’s true that Leslie is very poorly.’

The actor, famed for his role of ‘Dirty’ Den Watts in the BBC soap, is said to be in critical condition with his family worried for his future health, as a close friend says: ‘Leslie is being looked after. Those who are close to him are hugely worried and are praying for his well-being.’

The star left the UK after he split from his wife, Jane, of 31 years, and filmed a series called The English Neighbour back in 2010.

Grantham first auditioned for EastEnders back in 1984 prior to its 1985 launch. Originally he went for the part of Peter Beale but was offered Den Watts instead.

Despite announcing his intent to leave the show in 1988, he remained on our screens until 1989, after bosses didn’t want both him and Anita Dobson (who played wife Ange) to be leaving at the same time. The show filmed a storyline of his that saw him finally leave the small-screen the following year.

‘Dirty’ Den did, however, make a return to Albert Square some years later in 2003. While fans assumed Den had died at the hands of a gunshot, he apparently survived the injury and fled to Spain. He stayed for just over a year before it was revealed towards the end of 2004 that Grantham was again leaving the show – this time by the hand of his new wife, Chrissie, who hit him over the head with an iron doorstop.

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