The notorious Chrissie Watts is back, and one thing is for certain, there are sure to be fireworks…
After more than 19 years apart, Sharon comes face to face with Chrissie Watts, the woman who killer her beloved father, in prison. With Sharon now harbouring a murderous secret that has uncanny parallels to that of her step-mothers crime, only time will tell if their reunion will offer space for forgiveness, or whether it will be handbags at dawn…
Tonight, Chrissie’s return storyline was finally revealed. How did you react when Chris Clenshaw first told you about the storyline?
“I did say to Chris before we even discussed Chrissie coming back, ‘what’s the storyline?’ and he rang me, and I remember sitting down on a bench outside a coffee shop because it was such a good storyline. It was fun, and I just kept thinking it’s like Orange is the New Black. It’s brilliant.”
What did you think when you read the script?
“When I read the script, I just kept thinking this is like Orange is the New Black meets Prisoner Cell Block H, meets Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. It was just great. I’ve had so many years of people asking me what happened in Chrissie’s court case, and if she would ever come back because people loved that character. I sometimes would wonder what Chrissie was up to so it’s really lovely to be able to come back and revisit that woman. I have to thank Tony Jordan and Sarah Phelps for creating that character and writing for her so well.”
Chrissie's Time in Prison
What impact has prison had on Chrissie?
“I think she went to prison longer than most real murderers! And I’ve always said if she had a better lawyer, she would have got off for mitigating circumstances. I think it’s made her tougher. I think it’s made her very singular in her own survival and I think it’s given her a long time to think about that relationship with Den, and what he drove her to. I don’t think she’s softened, if anything I think she’s gotten harder because she’s had to survive. She’s obviously had a really tough time in prison and let’s not forget that she put Sam Mitchell behind bars, and the Mitchell’s have got long arms that reach into all sorts of areas.
I kept having to try and work out why Chrissie had been in prison over the last 19 years because as I say, it’s longer than most murderers, so obviously stuff has gone on in prison that has kept her there! She’s not the youngest of the prisoners, and she’s not the physically toughest of the prisoners but she’s definitely got something about her. She’s got charisma and charm, and the key thing for Chrissie is that she’s got very powerful skills of persuasion so she has risen to the top.”
Chrissie's Guilt and Perspective
Does Chrissie harbour any guilt for killing Den? And do you think she sees herself as a victim or a villain?
“I think she’s had time to realise what a horrible, toxic man Den Watts was. She also understands that relationship a lot better, and how he was the sort of man that could get under your skin as a woman, and how he could push you to the edge. He was an arch manipulator, a liar and a coercive controller, and twenty years on, the reality and understanding of that relationship has really sunk in.”
The Reunion of Two Strong Women
Chrissie and Sharon are about to come face-to-face with each other in prison. What can you tease about that first reunion?
“It’s the meeting of two strong Watts women, but 19 years have elapsed. Is Chrissie pleased to see an old friendly face? Or has she used the last 20 years to fester on what Sharon did to her which was not letting her escape with Jake, the love of her life.”
Tracy-Ann Oberman on Working with Letitia Dean
What was it like to work with Letitia Dean again?
“Oh my god, Tish [Letitia Dean] is a joy. We were very close twenty years ago, and life takes you down different paths so we hadn’t really run into each other. We both looked at each other after a couple of scenes and went ‘wow, this is really good’. We work extremely well together. We both work really hard, but we laugh a lot, and she is an absolute joy; I just love her.”
What was it like on that first day of filming?
“Acting in a scene is like playing tennis, and having a good partner means you get a really good volley. When we both met up, there was an acknowledgement of how much we enjoy each other’s company, and how good it was going to be to acting in these two-hander scenes.”
Was it fun playing out those scenes together?
“So much fun. I’ve spent the last year in Shakespeare land playing a very intense character in Shylock against a very harsh setting of 1936 fascism, so to come straight out of that and to go in playing Chrissie with Sharon in prison was the biggest joy. I don’t think I stopped laughing from the minute I arrived on the first day, until the day I left. She’s a brilliant woman, and I love her dearly.”
A Rollercoaster of Emotions
Without telling us too much, can you tease some of the drama that is ahead for your character?
“It’s a real rollercoaster of a ride as Sharon and Chrissie come face to face again. They were once extremely close but Chrissie murdered her father and lied to her about it, but equally they did trust each other, and they both understood each other very well. I think all the emotions will be present – love, jealousy, hatred, passion, joy and revenge. Will there be a resolution? That is the big question over the week and will they both come out of it alive and will they both come out of it with some closure? Who knows…”
Chrissie's Transformation
And the Chrissie Sharon meets is not the one she punched in the airport - this Chrissie has changed.
Tracy-Ann added: “I think it’s made her tougher. I think it’s made her very singular in her own survival and I think it’s given her a long time to think about that relationship with Den, and what he drove her to.
I don’t think she’s softened, if anything I think she’s gotten harder because she’s had to survive. She’s obviously had a really tough time in prison and let’s not forget that she put Sam Mitchell behind bars, and the Mitchell’s have got long arms that reach into all sorts of areas.
I kept having to try and work out why Chrissie had been in prison over the last 19 years because as I say, it’s longer than most murderers, so obviously stuff has gone on in prison that has kept her there! She’s not the youngest of the prisoners, and she’s not the physically toughest of the prisoners but she’s definitely got something about her.
She’s got charisma and charm, and the key thing for Chrissie is that she’s got very powerful skills of persuasion so she has risen to the top.”
An Explosive Reunion
And the reunion between the two is set to be explosive.
The Sun's Soaps editor Carl Greenwood reveals why Chrissie Watts' return could be brilliant
EASTENDERS bosses could be playing a blinder bringing the iconic Chrissie Watts back - but only if they get it right.
It’s a tale as old as soap that bringing back a legendary character will get fans very excited and this is no exception.
Actress Tracy Ann Oberman is a rare breed amongst soap actors - she’s phenomenally talented and played a truly iconic character for a relatively short period of time but didn’t become typecast.
She’s gone onto huge success across the industry, whether it be for her recent powerhouse performance in The Merchant of Venice, or her long-running role showing off her comedy chops as Aunt Val in Friday Night Dinner.
So coming back is a risk - both for Tracy and the show.
For EastEnders has been having a bit of an issue making iconic returns, well iconic.
Cindy Beale’s return started off promising and then sort of fell by the wayside.
Her recent bad boy ways have finally kicked things up a gear reminding us all that Cindy is more than just Ian Beale’s wife.
But for every Cindy there’s a Sam - Mitchell, in this case - whose return offered so much promise, and yet amounted to so little.
Now with Chrissie back, there is hope that actress Kim Medcalf may agree to return once more and I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
However there was an another high profile EastEnders return of an iconic character that didn’t so much fail to launch as sink without trace - Janine Butcher.
Like Chrissie, Janine was a return that fans desperately wanted.
And then she returned and got bogged down with Mick Carter’s exit and everything great about Janine flopped.
Hopefully bosses have learned from the experience because the same fate must not befall Chrissie.
She is too much of a good character to be let down, and Tracy Ann is too much of a great actress to not be given the material to sparkle on screen.
So let’s hope they get it right…
“It’s the meeting of two strong Watts women, but 19 years have elapsed,” the actress revealed.
“Is Chrissie pleased to see an old friendly face? Or has she used the last 20 years to fester on what Sharon did to her which was not letting her escape with Jake, the love of her life.”
What's Next on Albert Square?
EastEnders spoilers follow.
Next week on EastEnders, there is a huge returnee that looks set to make waves on Albert Square.
Elsewhere, things are about to get very complicated for Anna, and the aftermath of the club crush continues.
Here are 10 spoilers to look forward to next week.
Having last been seen being carted away by the police for the murder of Den Watts in 2005, nobody expected Chrissie to return to the Square – but next week she does just that.
Several residents are rattled to see her back, not least Den's daughter Sharon, and it's not yet clear why she's returned.
So, what has brought Chrissie back to Walford – and how will Sharon react when she comes face to face with her father's killer again?
Elaine causes problems when she tells George that she doesn't think Kojo should stick around after he lashes out at Johnny. Unfortunately, she does so within earshot of Kojo and he reacts badly.
While George tries to look out for his brother and calm the situation, Kojo runs away when he isn't looking, leaving George deeply concerned. And it seems that he's pointing the finger of blame for this latest situation directly at Elaine…
Anna is having a bad run of things of late and while Bobby's keen to be there for her, he is called away for a work problem and asks Freddie if he'd mind hanging out with Anna to keep her company.
But with his feelings for her continuing to grow, Freddie feels like being close to her would make things worse, so he makes an excuse to get out of it. Anna tries to talk to Freddie about why he's avoiding her, but she is struck by a dizzy spell. Is Anna okay?
With Kojo still missing after Elaine's outburst, the search is on to find him – and Junior is first to discover where his uncle is hiding out.
Heading to catch the Tube, Kojo plans to head out of Walford for good – but Junior does all he can to try and convince him to reconsider. Will Kojo give the East End life one more try, or will he follow through on his plan to head back to Ghana?
Freddie's suspicious behaviour when he's around Anna has not gone unnoticed, and Gina thinks she knows exactly what's going on with him.
When Freddie agrees to a group hangout at Walford East, he soon makes another excuse and leaves. Anna remains confused as to what his problem is, so Gina decides to find out for herself.
And it doesn't take her long to realise the feelings that he's trying to keep hidden…
With relations strained between George and Elaine, he's also still struggling to form a bond with Junior. But it's Cindy who gives Junior some sound advice.
Junior takes what she's said on board and it seems to do the trick, with father and son sharing a close moment that hints at a more positive future. As for Cindy, Junior sends her a text to let her know that he wants to thank her in private…
The truth behind the disastrous crush remains hidden, but Chelsea's deeply concerned about the ramifications for her going forward.
Jack is unable to reassure Ricky that Penny won't end up behind bars for the accident, which leaves Chelsea terrified about what may happen should the full details emerge. And it looks like that may happen sooner than she thinks...
While Avani and Barney are hanging out, it soon becomes clear that her attention is elsewhere as she's constantly messaging somebody on her phone.
Barney's patience quickly wears thin, and he quizzes her about who she's messaging – convinced it's another boy. But Avani doesn't respond well to the questioning and loses her cool with Barney. What is Avani hiding?
Concerned that her sister may be pregnant, Gina purchases a pregnancy test for Anna – and is nearly caught by Cindy in the process.
And sure enough, Anna finds out that she is indeed expecting Bobby's baby. How will Bobby, who's soon due to leave Walford, respond to the news?
Chelsea goes a bit too far when she tries to be there for Amy, and is quickly told to leave her be so that she can have space. Chelsea then turns to Denzel to check on her, despite his guilt at thinking he was the reason she was at the club to begin with.
Meanwhile, Jack receives news that the CCTV footage from the night could be restored, and that the full story could come to light imminently.
EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage
EastEnders reveals Anna pregnancy story in 22 pics
EastEnders reveals Dean trial drama in 21 pictures
8 huge EastEnders spoilers for next week
12 huge EastEnders spoilers for next week
EastEnders' Chelsea left devastated in 38 pictures
EastEnders' Sonia receives death news in 55 pics
13 huge EastEnders spoilers for next week
EastEnders' Johnny left devastated in 35 pictures
10 huge EastEnders spoilers for next week
EastEnders' Linda faces blackmail drama in 42 pics
12 huge EastEnders spoilers for next week
EastEnders' Tommy sparks concern in 36 pictures
DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
©2024 Hearst UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 30 Panton Street, Leicester Square, London, SW1Y 4AJ. Registered in England. All Rights Reserved. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Anna Knight takes a pregnancy test after having suspicious symptoms in Thursday's episode of EastEnders (7:30 pm. See our TV Guide for full listings)
Although Anna is secretly sweet on Freddie despite dating Bobby Beale, Anna has no idea that he feels the same way too.
Anna's sister Gina Knight is on the case as she suspects that they pair of them are secretly in love with each other and wanting a love story, she's determined to prove it!
With Anna suspiciously feeling faint earlier in the week, when she throws up on her way to talk things through with Freddie, it's clear that something is up...
Gina suspects right away that Anna could be pregnant and she heads out to get her a test, almost getting caught by their mum Cindy Beale.
At the Vic, Anna takes the pregnancy test and nervously waits for the result...
Chelsea Fox has been living in fear ever since her petty revenge on Penny Branning led to deadly consequences. When Penny stole her job as manager of Peggy's,
Chelsea secretly fiddled with the booking system for an event to increase the numbers to make Penny look bad.
Her plan spectacularly backfired when the club became dangerously overcrowded and several people were seriously injured in the crush, including teenager Amy Mitchell.
Now that Amy is home from hospital, a guilty Chelsea is fussing round her. Irritated, Amy tells Chelsea that she needs some space. Wanting to do a good deed for Amy, Chelsea arranges for Amy's ex Denzel Danes to visit her and cheer her up.
Later, Chelsea's blood runs cold when copper Jack Branning reveals that the police tech team are trying to piece together the corrupted video footage from the club on the fateful night to find out what really happened.
After Jack recently admitted that Penny could go to prison for negligence, Chelsea is terrified that if the truth comes out that she maliciously increased the ticket numbers, she'll definitely land some jail time.
Avani Nandra-Hart has agreed to hang out with newcomer Barney Mitchell but he soon gets fed up when she's constantly on her phone sending messages.
Bored of being ignored, Barney asks her if she's texting a boy. A defensive Avani tells him to mind his own business but it's clear he's touched a nerve.
Who could the mystery boy be?
EastEnders continues on BBC One on Monday at 7:30 pm.
