List of EastEnders two-hander episodes

EastEnders two-hander episodes refers to singular episodes of the BBC soap opera EastEnders that feature only two members of the cast for the duration. Scripted like mini-plays, two-hander episodes have become a tradition in EastEnders over the years, dating back to a groundbreaking episode in 1986, which featured publicans Den and Angie Watts. Devoting an entire half an hour of drama to just two characters had previously been unheard of in a bi-weekly serial before this episode aired, but it set a precedent for the programme and it has featured two-handers ever since.

Typically the episodes feature revelations and major character changes to an important relationship, and intense interactions between two prominent characters. Structuring the episode in this way allows for in-depth focus on a specific character/storyline that would be impossible to achieve in the fast-moving and rapidly cut regular episodes. It also relies on just the one story and two actors to hold the audience for the entire duration of the episode.

Practically, these episodes were originally created for speedy filming purposes, as while the two actors were filming the two-hander, the remaining cast could be filming another episode.

The first two-hander featured Den (Leslie Grantham) and Angie Watts (Anita Dobson). The episode was structured like a tennis match, with a non-speaking window cleaner forever strolling innocently into the action. The episode was written by Jane Hollowood and directed by Antonia Bird. This episode was watched by 14.0 million viewers. It was decided to give Den and Angie a two-hander due to the popularity of the couple.

Den and Angie's marriage had been hanging by a thread all year, and in October 1986 Den finally decided that it was over and attempted to leave Angie for his mistress, Jan Hammond (Jane How). The episode began with Den trying to talk to Angie to tell her that he wanted to leave her and get a divorce. Angie stalled but Den persisted and stated his case. Den told her that he wanted a clean break from her, the pub, the Square and Walford. He told her he'd be getting another pub through a deal with James Wilmott-Brown (William Boyde) and Jan would be doing the books. Angie was shocked and for a moment defeated but she then dropped her bombshell and told Den that she only had six months to live. At first Den didn't believe her, but Angie kept to her story and, finally, her hysterical performance convinced him. Den crumbled and promised to stay with her saying "If I ever find out you're kidding me, Ange, I'll kill ya..." and then, consumed by guilt, he asked her for forgiveness. As he left to take Roly for a walk and be alone, Angie broke into a deranged smile, letting the audience in on her secret that she had been lying.

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