Three's a Crowd! Famous EastEnders Love Triangles (Part i)

If there’s a plot device that EastEnders love to repeat - other than ‘who’s-the-daddy’’ or ‘whodiddit,’ it’s love triangles. Sometimes even love squares! With the world going throuple-mad (or so it seems!) we’re wondering when we’re going to see Walford’s first throuple, seeing as three seems very much to be the magic number in Albert Square. But then - where would be the drama in that! Most of time one of the most satisfying moments for viewers is the big reveal when so-and-so gets caught out for cheating, followed by the inevitable chaos and drama ensues. 

During the last forty years, there have been no shortage of dramatic love triangles which don’t always end well. Just ask Sharon Watts! Over the years we’ve seen Barry-Natalie-Ricky; Sam-Ricky-Bianca; Ian-Jane-Grant; Shirley-Buster-Kathy; Laura-Gary-Lynne; Chrissie-Den-Kate; Tiffany-Tony-Simon, and the one we all hated - Mick-Linda-Max! And that’s not even a fraction of them! Oh and let’s not forget the most recent one, Ian-Cindy-Junior that dominated last year’s festive episode.

Lucky lady, Denise!

And we’ve now got the mother of all love triangles where Denise Fox has to choose between her soon-to-be ex husband Jack Branning or bad boy Ravi Gulati who’s also her daughter Chelsea’s ex boyfriend… and a murderer! But when you’re as hot as Ravi is, we suppose a lot gets overlooked! And now for the first time ever, as part of the show’s fortieth anniversary, it’s you the viewer who gets to decide the outcome to this entanglement by voting for who they want Denise’s new beau to be. The three actors involved in storyline Diane Parish, Scott Maslen, and Aaron Thiara have said the uncertainty involving the denouement of this storyline has meant that they’ve had to film two lots of scenes - and they’ll only know the result of the public vote twenty minutes before the LIVE episode tonight! Poor Diane has had to learn twice as many lines! Let’s hope she doesn’t get in a muddle on the night as she won’t be able to do another take. So... how’s Adam?!

So before we learn the outcome of what will undoubtedly be a triangle that goes down in EastEnders history, we take a look at some of the Square’s love triangles that had us on the edge of our seats. 

1. Angie-Den-Jan

Quite possibly one of the earliest love triangles that occurred on the Square and one that eventually led to those immortal words being uttered: “This my sweet is a letter from my solicitor…”

Queen Victoria landlady Angie Watts was besotted with her husband Den. Den was besotted with himself! While he undoubtedly cared for Angie in his own unique way, he clearly loved her a lot less than she loved him. It was common knowledge on the Square that Den had a mistress tucked away, and in later episodes over the years, it would be insinuated that Den had had a history of pulling more women than pints while poor long-suffering Ange just put up with it, desperate to hang onto her man. What no one on the Square knew was that Den was the father of Michelle Fowler’s baby, and what no one knew- not the viewers, the residents of Albert Square or even Den for that matter - was that he also had a son who was four years younger than his and Angie’s daughter, Sharon! But that’s a story for another time (2003 to be exact!) 

Den and Angie behind the bar

One of the most memorable but terribly underrated episodes was the one where Angie was serving a customer not realizing that it was Jan Hammond - Den's ‘other woman.’ When Jan approached Den - who was busy trying to break up a fight - he was shocked; Angie was devastated… and the locals really had something to gossip about! The confrontation between the two women was surprisingly civil considering the situation. But it was clear that neither woman was going to back down when it came to Den - who was only too happy to keep stringing both women along.

A suicide attempt by Angie brought out a remorseful Den’s caring side for a while but it was Den’s discovery that Angie had lied about having a terminal illness that led him to start divorce proceedings so that he could finally be with Jan. This storyline led to one of the show’s most watched episodes when Den handed a shocked Angie divorce papers on Christmas Day that was watched by more than thirty million viewers. And with an “'appy Christmas, Ange” he was off!

And while he moved Jan into the Vic, their relationship didn’t survive, although she did eventually help him flee to Spain to start a new life, leaving his family and friends to believe, over the course of fourteen years, that he’d been murdered. And Angie eventually sailed off into the sunset with her new man, never setting foot in Walford again. This love triangle highlighted Den’s cruel nature; Angie’s anguish, and Jan’s vulnerabilities - with the real casualties in this triangle being the women.

Although Den and Angie were only on screen together for a total of three years, the pairing was TV gold, with Mr. and Mrs. Watts regarded as one of the most iconic couples in British soap history, making mega stars out of the actors who played them, Leslie Grantham and Anita Dobson. And they are still celebrated by many EastEnders fans as British soap icons and the true king and queen of the Queen Victoria public house. 

2. Sufia-Ashraf-Stella

This one’s a real blast from the past but it’s one that still stands out in our minds. Going back to the earlier years of EastEnders, the Karims were the second family to take over the convenience store - now known as the Minute Mart. Although married to the long-suffering Sufia - a woman who could easily have set up a support group in Albert Square for women with wayward husbands along with Angie Watts - Ashraf Karim was also in a relationship with Stella, a woman he’d started seeing before he married Sufia, and the relationship carried on for years afterwards. Even a move to Walford didn’t change things. Ashraf wanted to appear a respectable member of the community and a hardworking family man. But he was controlling and ruled his family with a rod of iron, especially his teenage daughter Shireen. The teenager's desire to embrace the customs and traditions of the country she was born in was met with fierce opposition from her father. And yet, this was a man who had no intention of giving up his girlfriend - even after his children discovered their father's affair.

While we'd love to say that Sufia, who deserved so much better, kicked her errant husband to the curb and moved on with her life, she stayed with Ashraf despite making threats to leave. Sufia only agreed to work on their marriage in the belief that Ashraf had ended the affair with Stella. While their relationship was indeed over, it was only because Stella, fed up with being the other woman, ended things with Ashraf.

But they couldn't stay apart for long, and soon rekindled their relationship, continuing to meet in secret. Unfortunately for them, they were spotted by a relative of Shireen's new fiance, Jabbar Ahmed - and all hell broke loose, with Jabbar's family breaking off the engagement as they didn't want him marrying into such a dishonorable family, leaving Shireen heartbroken. The Karims eventually left Walford in 1990 for a new life in Bristol. What happened to Stella is unknown. Though if we had to hazard a guess, we'd say that she's still seeing Ashraf!

3. Pauline-Arthur-Mrs. Hewitt

Now this was one no one saw coming. Dependable, sensible Arthur Fowler? Having an affair? Never!

Pauline and Arthur with her mum, Lou Beale

But he did! Although everyone knew that Arthur and his wife Pauline went together like fish and chips - they also knew that in Pauline’s case the fish and chips was served with extra vinegar as she could be rather sour-faced with a penchant for nagging. And a lot of the time Arthur went along with whatever Pauline wanted for the sake of a quiet life. 

Then along came Christine Hewitt…

Christine, a divorcee and mum-of-one - known to everyone as Mrs. Hewitt, was a client of Arthur’s, hiring him when he started his garden landscaping business. She then went on to become his gardening assistant. And when Pauline rushed over to New Zealand to look after her brother Kenny following an accident, Mrs. Hewitt became a regular visitor at the Fowler residence spending lots of time with Arthur… which didn’t go unnoticed by a lot of the regulars, especially resident busybody, Dot Cotton, who made it her business to let Pauline know. 

Out of respect for Pauline, Arthur tried to end his friendship with Mrs. Hewitt. But the two always found themselves drawn together. And then the inevitable happened and the two began a relationship. For several months there was a lot of sneaking about as they carried on their secret affair. While Arthur found living this double-life stressful, he also enjoyed his time with Christine who was a lot of fun and seemed, in comparison to Pauline, a breath of fresh air.

However as their relationship continued, Christine became more and more needy, clingy and manipulative. She began to make Pauline look like the better option! She then demanded that Arthur leave Pauline for good to come and live with her, even threatening to tell his wife everything. Forced to come clean to Pauline, Arthur was rewarded with a wallop around the head with a frying pan when their argument got very heated in what is now one of the soap’s most hilariously iconic moments before throwing him out.

Bad boy, Arthur Fowler

The locals were shocked that one of the most solid relationships on the Square could unravel so quickly - and that good ol’ Arthur Fowler had it in him to be such a bad lad! And Mrs. Hewitt didn’t get off scot-free either, as she was rewarded by Pauline with one of her almighty slaps, and was also sacked from her job at Kathy Beale’s bistro, as Kathy - who had known all about Arthur and Christine and reluctantly kept their secret - felt that her loyalty ought to be with her former sister-in-law, Pauline. 

After almost a year apart, Pauline and Arthur did reconcile and were as strong as ever. Though thanks to Pauline’s Aunt Nellie, who took a dislike to Arthur upon learning about his shenanigans, the affair was never totally forgotten. As for Mrs. Hewitt, well a few home truths from Pauline and Arthur’s angry son, Mark, saw that she never set foot in Albert Square again. Although he did admit to his sister Michelle that deep down he did feel sorry for her as he knew that she was just a very lonely woman looking for a bit of happiness. 

4. Bianca-Ricky-Natalie

Many people might have thought that nice-but-dim Ricky Butcher had a lucky escape from his feisty, self-absorbed, gobby  former wife, Sam Mitchell. But he ended up with a taller, ginger, even gobbier version of Sam - Bianca Jackson! Bianca may have been a lot of fun and there was never a dull moment with her around but she was demanding and whiny, and definitely didn’t make Ricky’s life easy. Imagine a younger version of Pauline and Arthur!

Bianca with her new best mate, Tiff

Bianca was best friends with Natalie Price, who was quieter and more subdued than Bianca. Always on the lookout for a boyfriend, Natalie even developed a bit of a crush on Phil Mitchell even though he was in a relationship with her boss, Kathy Beale. She then made-up an older, sophisticated married boyfriend called Derek who treated her to expensive gifts and fancy restaurants in a bid to get one over on Bianca. And for a while it worked - until Bianca caught her out in a lie. And Bianca being Bianca, she did enjoy rubbing it in her friend’s face for a while. But then realizing how lonely Natalie was, Bianca kindly invited Natalie to join her and Ricky when they went out and even hoped that Natalie would soon meet someone. Someone real this time!

Then Bianca and Natalie’s old school friend, Tiffany Raymond, came to Walford. Being a lot more similar in personality to Bianca than Natalie was, the two girls got up to a lot of mischief in the Square, having wild nights out and enjoyed winding up the men of Walford. Their antics did not impress Ricky or Natalie and a rift began to develop between them and Bianca - spurred on by Tiffany. The more obnoxious Bianca became, the sorrier Natalie felt for Ricky, believing he deserved a lot better than her selfish best friend. Before long an attraction developed between Ricky and Natalie and they soon gave into their feelings for each other. As far as Natalie was concerned, she finally had the boyfriend she always wanted. Now to get Bianca out of the picture! So a scheming Natalie set the scene for Bianca to come along and catch her and Ricky together - which she did. And to say that Bianca did not go quietly is an understatement. Hell hath no fury like a fiery redhead scorned and all that!

Although a heartbroken Bianca dumped Ricky and told Natalie their friendship was over, Ricky realized that it was Bianca he really loved. And after discovering that it was a very manipulative Natalie who had planned for Bianca to catch them together, Ricky ended things with her. Realizing that there was nothing left for her in Walford, a devastated Natalie left to go and live with her sister. Bianca and Ricky did eventually get back together again, got married, and had baby Liam. But the marriage didn’t last due to Bianca cheating this time - with her mum Carol's fiancé, Dan, of all people - and she left the Square for a new life in Manchester.

Natalie, by now back in Walford and married to bumbling Barry Evans, realized that she'd never stopped loving Ricky and the two rekindled their relationship, even making plans to leave the Square together. However on the day they tried to run away together, they were found out by a bewildered Barry who begged Natalie not to leave him. And Ricky’s vindictive sister, Janine, desperate to keep her brother in Albert Square, revealed to a hurt Natalie that Ricky had cheated on her with his ex-wife Sam. The revelation ended their relationship once and for all, proving that Ricky and Natalie were never meant to be…

Stay tuned for the second part of this post!

Photos: YouTube

Blog graphics: Angel Noire