It'll be a muted Cocker-knee knees-up in Albert Square this New Year as two of EastEnders' popular couples leave Walford. And for one of them at least, a return is out of the question, unless a Dirty Den-style resurrection can be arranged.

I wouldn't want to give away any secrets, but the front cover of the latest edition of Inside Soap magazine promotes a feature about WIDOW SHARON, from which we may surmise that Nigel Harman, aka Dennis "I'm too sexy for my shirt" Rickman, will be leaving in a coffin.

Some might see this as justice. He did, you remember, shoot Jack Dalton in cold blood. Dennis won't be much of a menace once gangster Johnny Allen's heavies have sorted him out once and for all.

His departure will sadden those young ladies - and a few young men as well - who've grown to love Dishy Dennis, who may not win any acting prizes but silences his critics every time he removes his shirt.

Harman has returned to the musical theatre from whence he came. He came to Walford a supporting player, plucked from the chorus of Abba musical Mamma Mia, and leaves a leading man. He's taken over the role of Sky Masterston from Ewan McGregor in the London West End revival of Guys And Dolls.

As Dennis, he's been a busy boy since first strolling into the Square in April 2003, fresh from three years in prison. Truly a chip off the old criminal block known as Dirty Den. "Dennis may be able to turn on the charm with the ladies, but he has a certain sinister edge," as his official biography states.

No-one could doubt that he's been a hit with the lay-dees. Zoe caught his eye at the relaunch of Angie's Den. Sam, Kat, Kate, Tracey and Joanne are all in his little black book as conquests. But, of course, it's Sharon Watts with whom he's had the most tempestuous romance. Even the fact that she's his sister didn't put him off. And before anyone phones the police, I should point out that she's his adopted sister.

Their affair didn't please Dirty Den. He didn't even bother to turn up for the wedding, mainly because he was buried in concrete in the cellar of the Queen Vic. Mad Sam Mitchell did her best to dig him up and drag him along to the ceremony but only managed to get herself arrested.

That'll teach him to say to Sharon and Dennis, "over my dead body" when they announced their intention to tying the knot. The happy couple glossed over the inconvenience of their father's battered corpse being discovered on their wedding day, and went off on their foreign honeymoon anyway, keen to make use of their Air Miles.

Now, before Big Ben has barely bonged in the New Year, Dennis will be joining dad Dirty Den in the Soapland cemetery. And Sharon, lips aquiver even more than usual, will flee Walford in tears and possibly a taxi.

She might have troubling getting a cab as Alfie Moon and sometime wife Kat Slater are leaving as well. This is another couple whose relationship has been as on and off as a light with a loose connection. They can't even make a clean break.

Since his first appearance in November 2002, Shane Richie has endeared himself as "a charismatic character who blags his way in and out of trouble - and it's usually just around the corner". Jesse Wallace has amazed at Kat, thanks to belts masquerading as skirts and more make-up on her face than in Binns cosmetics department

He and Kat Slapper, sorry Slater, were meant for each other but the path of true love was full of potholes down which Kat, with her short skirts and stilettos, was prone to fall headfirst.

Alfie did the decent thing and divorced his first wife, Liza, minutes before he married Kat - whom he'd previously stopped marrying Andy the gangster in a wedding ceremony disruption reminiscent of the final scene of The Graduate.

He's been to jail for credit card fraud but is a good soul at heart. Look how he helped Nana Moon through her final dying days, although two-timing both Kat and her sister Little Mo was a bit off.

Whether Alfie and Kat ride off into the sunset together is anyone's guess. He's declared he wants to take a road trip around the US. But will Kat be in the passenger seat?.

2006 also sees the passing of an entire soap as five's Family Affairs draws to a close. Residents of Charnham are packing their bags and vacating the 6.30pm weekday slot after eight years on December 30. They won't be leaving with a bang - that happened a few years back when a new producer blew up many of the cast in an explosion - but with a wedding and a New Year's Ball.

Homeless residents might look well towards Walford for accommodation. After all, there are a few vacant houses there with the departure of Dennis, Sharon, Alfie and Kat.

l EastEnders: BBC1 Christmas Day 9pm; Boxing Day 8pm; and every day next week.