his introduction as a full-time character on 1 may 2003 is marked by a fight with phil mitchell (steve mcfadden), in which he floors phil with a single punch. this launches a rivalry with phil which continues when phil reneged on an agreement to meet dennis for a fight at phil's garage by summoning several of his friends, who give dennis a severe beating when phil walks out. dennis infuriates phil by seducing his sister sam mitchell (kim medcalf), his wife-to-be kate morton (jill halfpenny) (who is a former flame of dennis's) and his daughter's nanny, joanne ryan (tara lynne o'neill).