Why is Chrissie Watts in jail and who did she kill?

EASTENDERS fans can wait for the return of the legendary Chrissie Watts.

The infamous character is heading back to the soap after almost 20 years. Here we take a look at why she’s in jail.

BBC

Tracy-Ann Oberman is returning as Chrissie Watts on EastEnders[/caption]

Why is Chrissie Watts in jail?

Chrissie Watts – played by actress Tracy-Ann Oberman – arrived on Albert Square in April 2004 as the wife of EastEnders‘ villain Den Watts.

However, she left Walford in December 2005 after she was imprisoned for murder, and she has been in jail ever since.

Although Chrissie only lived in the Square for just over a year-and-a-half but she managed to make several enemies and cause plenty of drama in her wake.

Aside from the murder she committed, her other big storylines included hacking off love rival Kate Mitchell’s hair, after she found out she was having an affair with her husband.

However, Chrissie biggest enemy has to be Sharon Watts, Den’s daughter.

Who did Chrissie Watts kill?

Chrissie is in prison for murdering her husband Dirty Den, after she hit him over the head with a doorstop.

After killing him, she buried his body under the barrel store floor of The Vic with the help of Sam Mitchell and Zoe Slater.

The trio agreed to keep quiet about the death, after he had wronged them all.

However, when Sam drunkenly dig the body up, the murder was revealed with his daughter Sharon left horrified at Chrissie’s crime.

Since being sentenced to life in jail, Chrissie hasn’t been heard from since – until now.

In a new trailer released on September 5, 2024, fans got their first glimpse of the notorious EastEnders character for the first time in 19 years.

A slew of shots of Chrissie were shown on the screen alongside the tagline, “Watch your back”.

BBC

Chrissie was last seen on-screen in 2005 after she murdered of her husband Den Watts[/caption]

BBC

Sam Mitchell and Zoe Slater helped her cover the murder up[/caption]

What has Tracy-Ann Oberman said on her return as Chrissie Watts?

The reasons for her return are being kept closely under wraps but actress Tracy-Ann Oberman has talked about her big comeback.

Speaking about being back on EastEnders she said: “Chrissie Watts was such a great character to play – a victim or a villain.

The scripts are fantastic and I hope the viewers enjoy her as much as I am enjoying playing her again.

Tracy-Ann Oberman

“She is a real fan favourite so, when Chris Clenshaw asked me to come back and re-visit her and see what has happened in the last 19 years, I jumped at the chance.

“The scripts are fantastic and I hope the viewers enjoy her as much as I am enjoying playing her again.”

Chris Clenshaw, the BBC soap’s boss, added: “I’m delighted to welcome the immensely talented Tracy-Ann back to the iconic role of Chrissie Watts

“Although the character hasn’t been seen on screen for almost twenty years, Chrissie is cemented in EastEnders’ rich history for her murder of Walford’s most infamous villain, and Sharon’s beloved father, Dirty Den.

“I’m keeping tight-lipped on the exact circumstances relating to her return for the time being, but what I can promise is that it’s never quiet when Chrissie Watts is around.”