Leslie Grantham to stay on as Dirty Den

Leslie Grantham has agreed to stay on as Dirty Den in Eastenders.

Grantham, who was persuaded to come back to the show after a 14-year absence, has signed a contract to play the role for at least another year.

He will be taking a Christmas break to honour contractual obligations to do pantomime in Belfast but will return in the New Year.

The BBC's controller of drama serials, Mal Young, told Media Guardian that Grantham had agreed to stay on after seeing the ratings boost his appearance gave to the show.

The actor, who finally agreed to rejoin the soap last year after endless coaxing from the corporation, reportedly threatened to quit if the show failed to get high enough ratings.

But his appearance has given Eastenders a shot in the arm and reassured BBC drama bosses.

Seventeen million viewers switched on to watch his first reappearance three weeks ago, when he uttered the long-awaited words "'Ello Princess".

Eastenders has enjoyed ratings of around 12 million since, as viewers await the onset of open warfare with the Mitchell clan.

Mr Young would not be drawn on the details of Mr Grantham's pay package, which is reported to be close to £300,000 (€438,000) a year.