Letitia Dean's Marriage to Jason Pethers
EastEnders icon Letitia Dean, known for her role as Sharon Watts, was once married to Holby City actor Jason Pethers. The couple tied the knot in 2002 but divorced five years later in what she described as an 'upsetting' split.
Dean, 58, has played Sharon since the soap's debut in 1985, making her one of the longest-serving cast members. Her character has been involved in numerous storylines, from affairs with the Mitchell brothers to plotting against Ian Beale and mourning the loss of her son Denny.
Early Life and Career
Born in Hertfordshire, Dean trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts from age 10. She landed early roles on Brookside and Grange Hill before securing the part of Sharon. To get the role, she lied about being a Cockney, claiming she lived 'within the sound of Bow bells,' as she revealed in 2020 on the spin-off Secrets from the Square.
The Marriage and Split
Dean met Jason Pethers, best known for playing Rob Greening in Holby City, in 2001. They became engaged within months and married in 2002 at All Saints' Church in Marylebone, with EastEnders co-star Susan Tully as bridesmaid. However, the marriage ended in 2007 due to disagreements over starting a family.
Speaking about the split, Dean said: 'I do not regret one minute of my time with Jay. I was in love - desperately in love - and I can't reiterate enough how thankful I am that I did get married to that man.' She added: 'As a couple you can, hopefully, go down the same path together as long as you share the same desires and dreams. Unfortunately, many of us fork off in different directions.'
Pethers' mother, Joan, told the Daily Mirror: 'They both wanted children, but Jason wanted to wait until he could afford it. She had a lot more money than him. I think, like any man, he wanted to look after his wife.'
Life After Divorce
Since the divorce, Dean has kept her personal life private and has not publicly revealed any new relationships. She continues to star in EastEnders, which airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer.
