EastEnder Letitia lied to get role

She may seem to come and go from the soap as she likes nowadays, but Letitia Dean was once desperate to be on EastEnders.

The actress recently revealed she was so keen to get the role of Sharon Watts, she lied to producers about being a genuine cockney sparrow.

She told The Mirror: "I made up some story that my parents were away in India and I stayed with an aunt and uncle who lived in Hackney."

Luckily, the little white lie worked and Letitia - who was born in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, far from the sound of Bow Bells - got to be the princess of the Queen Vic.

Even if she was found out, clearly no one minded too much, as she played the part for 21 years, and has admitted she wouldn't rule out making another return.

Viewers last saw Sharon in 2006, when she left following the death of her husband - and adopted brother - Dennis Rickman.