Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) was left reeling in last night’s EastEnders when Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) revealed that her beloved Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman) is the father of her twins.

When Zoe returned a few weeks ago, we learnt that she had given birth to a baby boy and a girl after leaving Walford. It’s believed the girl died, and Zoe chose to put the boy up for adoption.

Following Sharon’s return, it wasn’t long until she laid eyes on Zoe, and when she questioned why Zoe was back, presuming that it was down to money, Zoe unexpectedly revealed all about her babies.

Rising from her seat and taunting Sharon, Zoe needled at her before finally delivering the killer blow, revealing with a sneer that the father of her twins is her ex-boyfriend and Sharon’s deceased ex-husband!

In tonight’s episode, Sharon understandably struggled to process the enormous twist. She believed that Zoe was making it up, but she backed up her claim by revealing that she slept with Dennis just before she left.

The news her much loved partner had betrayed her left Sharon distraught. She was later found by Ian and Kathy Beale (Adam Woodyatt and Gillian Taylforth), who tried to help.

As Kathy and Ian attempted to calm Sharon down, Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) was listening to Zoe, who had stated that she might be able to get money from Sharon, and use that to try and track her son down.

It was Kathy who ended up helping Sharon reach a decision on what to do next. She said that if she was in her situation, she’d want to meet the boy and see how similar he is to Dennis.

Kathy also said that if Sharon got there first, it would prevent Zoe from filling the son’s head with lies.

With that, Sharon marched over to see Zoe and said that while they won’t ever be friends, she is willing to help look for Dennis’ son.

But will their search prove successful?

Who was Dennis Rickman?

Dennis was initially introduced by then-EastEnders boss, Louise Berridge, coinciding with the return of ‘Dirty’ Den Watts in a move to return the Watts family to the forefront of the show.

As Sharon sought to locate the long-lost brother she recently discovered she had, Dennis burst onto Albert Square fresh out of prison and became involved in a feud with rival hard man Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), seducing his sister, Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) and fiancée Kate Morton (Jill Halfpenny).

He breaks free of his ‘father figure’, Jack Dalton (Hywell Bennett), leader of ‘the Firm’ gangland organisation that’d cast a shadow over the Square since the early days of the soap, and that’d overseen the ‘death’ of Dirty Den and kills him, though not before learning Den is still alive.

Initially frosty, Dennis eventually softened toward his dad once he re-emerged, though their relationship was blown apart upon the reveal that he and Sharon had fallen in love and were locked in a passionate affair.

Desperate to build a relationship with Den, Dennis broke up with Sharon and began a relationship with Zoe.

Dennis’ temper and connections to the underworld, never left him, and he began a deadly feud with Walford gang lord, Johnny Allen (Billy Murray). As things heated up between them, Johnny attempted to attack Sharon, though, upon learning she was pregnant relented.

He offered her a choice, take Dennis and leave the area by New Years Day or he’d kill Dennis.

Though Sharon convinced Dennis to leave with her, Phil intervened, manipulating Dennis into taking revenge on Johnny. Dennis did, and beat the gangster half to death, leaving him with a phone so he could call for help.

Before he did, however, Johnny ordered Dennis’ murder.