EastEnders' 35th anniversary week came to a head last night [February 21] with one character tragically losing their life after the boat party.

Despite escaping the boat itself, Sharon's eldest son Dennis 'Denny' Rickman didn't survive the evening. After locking him in a room on the boat, Ian rescued Dennis - but more water poured in and, despite the medics' efforts, he couldn't be saved. It was up to Keanu to break the news to Sharon, who had just given birth to a baby boy. "This is my fault," she said. "I promised Louise, on his life. I thought this is what love looked like. If I hadn't let you into my life I'd still have my son." Sharon told him to get out, and that she never wanted to see him again - before breaking down in tears over the loss of Dennis.

“I never want to see you again.” #EastEnders pic.twitter.com/IIAQjsWq2v

— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) February 21, 2020

EastEnders' Kate Oates and Jon Sen previously said there was "only ever one candidate" that the planned to kill off in the show's 35th anniversary celebrations. "There is something almost like a tragedy about this particular person who dies and it could be argued that it's been set up for some time. It is like a Greek tragedy." Kate told DigitalSpy. "In retrospect you'll see that there is only ever one candidate really who can generate the story we wanted to tell going forward for months and months," Jon added.