Letitia Dean was shocked to find out she has filmed her 2,000th ‘EastEnders’ episode – and admitted she "couldn’t have done it without" Steve McFadden.
The 51-year-old actress has played Sharon Mitchell on the BBC One soap on and off since 1985, so the show’s bosses interrupted filming to pay tribute to her services to the programme and present her with a bouquet of flowers.
John Sen, EastEnders’ executive producer, told Letitia: "I would like to say congratulations to a wonderful actress, a fantastic company member, and a national icon who just completed her 2,000th episode."
A surprised Letitia said: "No! Thank you."
She then turned to Steve – who has played Phil Mitchell since 1990 – and said: "I couldn’t have done it without you, Steve."
He replied: "She’s right. You’re right."
EastEnders’ senior exec producer Kate Oates presented Letitia with the bouquet and praised her "amazing achievement".
Speaking in a behind-the-scenes video posted on the ‘EastEnders’ Twitter account, she said: "It’s an amazing achievement by anyone’s standards."
An accompanying message on the soap’s Twitter read: "This week the legend that is Letitia Dean aka Sharon Mitchell filmed her 2000th episode of #EastEnders!
"Now that’s an occasion to be marked. Congratulations Letitia."
Letitia joined ‘EastEnders’ in 1985 after starring as Lucina Oliver in ‘Grange Hill’ and in one episode of now-defunct soap ‘Brookside’.
She departed Walford in 1995 only to return in 2001 for a five-year stint. But she couldn’t keep away from Albert Square and was back again in 2012, where she has remained.
Letitia Dean films 2,000th EastEnders episode
