Leslie Grantham: Eastenders' Dirty Den Watts 'fighting for his life' in hospital

The actor has returned to the UK from Bulgaria

Update: Leslie Grantham has passed away at the age of 71

Former EastEnders actor Leslie Grantham is reportedly in critical condition and fighting for his life.

The 71-year-old, famous for playing “Dirty” Den Watts in the BBC soap, has returned to the UK from Bulgaria where he had been living and is being closely monitored by doctors.

A representative for the actor has confirmed Grantham ”is very poorly” and asked for the actor’s privacy to be respected.

According to The Sun, Grantham has been visited in hospital by close friends in the industry.

Grantham left the UK after splitting with his wife of 31 years, Jane. In 2010, he spent time in Bulgaria filming TV series The English Neighbour.

Grantham shot to fame while playing Watts in EastEnders, originally from 1985 to 1989.

A 1986 Christmas Day episode of the soap drew in an audience of more than 30 million viewers, who watched as Grantham handed over divorce papers to his on-screen wife, Angie. The character was apparently killed off in 1989 but Grantham made a shock return to Albert Square in 2003.

Additional reporting by agencies.