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Welcome back, I’m not going to mess around it’s straight so back to the count down ...

10. Den Watts is murdered

In 2005, almost 16 years since his last ’death’ Den Watts finally met his maker. Zoe Slater whom he had got pregnant in a sick attempt to keep Dennis away from Sharon, Sam Mitchell whom he had conned out of everything and wife Chrissie who had finally grown tired of the affairs all lined up for revenge but it wasn’t long before things took a sinister turn. While attacking Chrissie, Zoe rushed to help knocking him to the floor in the process. Having though she killed him she fled on Chrissie’s advice to get something to cover the body with. Sam went to also fetch something, upon re-entering the bar she witnessed as Den woke up and threatened Chrissie one last time. Striking back Chrissie hit him over the head and killed him outright. Only Sam knew Chrissie’s secret and it wasn’t long before it all came out..

9. Jamie’s Death on Little Mo and Billy’s Wedding Day

Jamie was knocked down on the build up to the wedding day/Christmas day by friend/enemy Martin Fowler, totally accidental. Martin had previously got the love of Jamie’s life Sonia pregnant but Sonia and Jamie had come through the betrayal and they reunited. However on Christmas Day Jamie’s nearest and dearest were called to the hospital however Jamie told Billy to go and marry Little Mo. The dramatic contrast between the emotion of Jamie’s death and the happiness of Little Mo and Billy’s wedding was fantastic Eastenders drama at its best. Natalie Cassidy, Steve McFadden, Barbara Windsor, Kim Metcalf and John Bardon put in exceptional performances as the shock of Jamie’s death began to sink in. Natalie Cassidy especially, Sonia looking into the stars may have been slightly cheesy as well as Jamie giving Sonia Ethel’s ring but it worked. And it moved me to tears.

8. Ello Princess ...

Controversially this decade saw the return of Den Watts from the grave, unlike American Soaps, British Soaps pride themselves on realism however this one moved cause outrage. Den returned to the Soap in September 2003 and only 17 months later he was killed off again. Sharon, adoptive daughter of Den never found it odd when adoptive sister Vikki Fowler turned up in the Square and they later discovered Den had a secret son called Dennis that even he never knew about all turned up in the Square creating a new generation of the Watts family. The Watts kids heard the rumours that Den was in fact alive in Spain after Dennis killed gangland boss Jack Dalton, Vikki went to Spain and found her father. Sharon was so shocked to see Den, the night after she slept with Den’s son Dennis (keeping up?) that she was physically sick in her club Angie’s Den creatively named after her adoptive parents (Den and Angie Watts). Fans questioned the return and some of the writing wasn’t always up to scratch for Den, sadly Leslie’s off screen antics meant we soon saw the end of Den. However there is no denying that Den’s return statement “Ello Princess” wasn’t one of the highlights of the naughties, along with Dot Cotton’s reaction of seeing a ghost. I also personally loved Ian and Den’s relationship.

7. Whitney’s Child Abuse

Eastenders shocked us in 2008 but giving us one of the most controversial storylines EE had ever covered by exploring sexual child abuse with Bianca Jackson’s step daughter and her new partner sick Tony King. Tony was in Prison when the Jackson’s arrived in the Square however he was later released and it was clear that he had previously off screen groomed young Whitney into falling into love with him. Whitney was obsessed with Tony. When the abuse was finally revealed on Whitney’s 16th Birthday, Patsy Palmer put in her strongest performance to date as shocked, confused stepmother and partner Bianca Jackson. Young Shona McGarty also put in a brilliant performance as Whitney struggled to realise that Tony was a sick, twisted pervert. The police finally caught up with Tony and we saw him dragged out of poor Whitney’s life, he was later sentenced in 2009 showing all victims of sexual abuse that they attacker can be punished. A special mention has to go to Chris Coghill who played the vile monster to perfection.

6. Stax Reveal

Max and Stacey’s affair was dull and creepy, no one will forget that however the outcome was outstanding. Lacey Turner, Charlie Clements, Jake Wood and Jo Joyner were all outstanding. Both episodes had it all, shocks, twists and screaming! Everyone watched the TV as Lauren’s DVD reveals the truth, the final moments of the affair on the day of Stacey and Bradley’s wedding however Bradley suffered a double blow not only had his wife hurt him, so had Max his father. One of the other brilliant twists was Tanya falling down the stairs, it was so unexpected and shocking. The emotions from all the actors were spot on and we as the audience felt for them all in different ways.

5. Dot Helps Ethel to die

During the year 2000 Ethel Skinner had developed brain cancer. After keeping it a secret for several months she finally confessed to best friend Dot but then placed an even bigger dilemma upon her. Ethel wanted Dot to help her die once the time come. Rattled against her beliefs Dot was torn. Ethel’s health continued to deteriorate and after having a party in the Vic she begged Dot to help her. After seeing how much it meant to Ethel, Dot then agreed. Dot held Ethel while the credits rolled and for only the then second time in EastEnders history a different theme and credits played.

4. Jean/Stacey and Frank’s final appearance

There was one relationship that is sometimes referred to as the greatest ever love story of EastEnders and that title goes to Frank and Pat. They loved each other but they could never live with each other. In 2005 this was once more demonstrated. During Janine’s trial they had one last fling. This also marked the final appearance from Mike Reid in the soap. As well as Frank’s final episode the week also saw the last appearance of Chrissie Watts. Chrissie had finally faced up to her crime and decided it was time to plead guilty to the charge of murder. The plans didn’t include boyfriend Jake Moon, whom she dumped at the same time. The week also focused on Jean Slater’s life giving viewers an inslight into what Stacey’s childhood had been like. Viewers had already met Jean, all but briefly in 2004. Notably described as ’kitchen sink drama’ the scenes were some of the shows most powerful for several years. Jean later went on to become a full time cast member.

3. Trevor and Little Mo’s Christmas nightmare

Trevor and Mo had been at the centre of a domestic abuse storyline for a year by the time the infamous Christmas day incident came about. 7 days earlier he had raped her after he discovered a hat she had bought for sister Lynne’s wedding. A wedding Trevor had banned Mo from. Christmas day 2001 will go down as the most shocking in EastEnders history. Trevor forcing Mo to eat her Christmas dinner is a vision not many will forget. Kacey and Alex both played their roles to perfection.

2. Who Shot Phil

By March 2001 Phil had turned most of Walford against him. He had bedded his then girlfriend Lisa’s best mate Mel, gloated to Steve about it. Had Dan Sullivan wanting revenge. While Ian and Mark also had issues with him. So it was during the wedding party for Steve and Mel that someone knocked at Phil’s door. Having already been the victim of several pranks by local youngsters he issued a warning about how he would ’tan their backsides’ if he saw them again. As he turned to re-enter his house a gun appeared from the bushes and a shot was fired. It was exactly four week before the shooter was revealed. The whole country went ’Who Shot Phil’ crazy and an important UEFA football game was delayed by 15 minutes while the outcome was played into the ground. The person revealed was of course his ex Lisa who also happed to be pregnant with his child. So the drama didn’t end there...

1. Your Not My Muvvva! Yes I Am!

Kat Slater (or Moon as she goes by these days) has been one of those Soap characters this decade that have reached legendary status. Kat arrived with the rest of her family and we all believe that Zoe was her daughter. However when Zoe decided she was moving to Spain with uncle Harry, Kat refused to let her go as all the sisters looked uncomfortable it became clear that something was going on, after months of a slow but sneaky build up it was finally revealed that Zoe was in fact Kat and Harry’s daughter, and Kat had been abused by her uncle. After Zoe learned the complete truth, Kat couldn’t cope with Zoe’s rejection and tried to kill herself. This was a major turning point in Kat’s story before she was the gobby, slutty Slater girl; afterwards she became Kat Slater, a name known by most Soap fans let alone EastEnders fan. Zoe then ended up on the streets of London after running away however the mother and daughter duo were finally united when Kat saved Zoe from being pimped as a prostitute by head butting pimp Roxy Drake.

Was that a surprise? Was your favourite included? Do you think EastEnders will reach these dramatic heights in the next decade? There’s only one way to find out.

Finally once again I need to say thanks to Charlotte for her 10 moments which made up the top 20. x