EastEnders reveal Denny Rickman's funeral date

\'EastEnders\' have revealed that Denny Rickman\'s funeral will be aired on March 23.

Newly-released spoilers have revealed that Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean) will face her darkest day as her teenage son is laid to rest. To make matters worse, the already-devastating day for Sharon will be made even more difficult when a surprise visitor threatens to ruin everything.

Denny lost his life last month during the BBC One soap\'s 35th anniversary week of episodes, after he was trapped in a room on the Carters\' boat party on the River Thames, and drowned as the boat was sinking.

Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) had trapped Denny in a room on the boat before it started to sink, and despite his attempts to save him, the youngster couldn\'t be revived after being taken to dry land.

Bleu Landau, who played the role of Denny, previously said that he was "sad" his \'EastEnders\' journey had come to an end but also paid tribute to the cast and crew on the soap.

The 14-year-old actor wrote on Instagram: "Dennis The Menace Rickman RIP, what an amazing 4 an arf years you\'ve given me, 222 episodes and an experience I will never forget! Big thanks to the cast and crew at @bbceastenders for all your help and support over the years, I have made some lifelong friends. Sad that it\'s come to an end but now on to new beginnings and am excited to see what future holds. Bleu (sic)".

\'EastEnders\' boss Kate Oates felt that Denny\'s demise had been "very well thought out".

She said: "When we discussed this - and it\'s true of any soap or drama - you want consequence.

"That is the main thing that comes out of the death we are seeing. It is where it goes, it\'s the people who are left behind and the story that it generates. It is very well thought out."