Michelle Ryan: Zoe and Den was a shock for me too

Former Eastender Michelle Ryan has admitted that it was difficult, at first, to understand her character Zoe’s relationship with Dirty Den Watts.

“I think the sleeping with Den storyline was a bit of a stretch of the imagination… even for me,” she told TV Times.

Despite being young enough to almost be his grand-daughter, Zoe slept with Den, became pregnant and had an abortion - and if that wasn’t enough, witnessed his vicious murder too.

“But it happens, and Eastenders doesn’t shy away from dealing with these things. And in the madness of soaps, it did work.”