EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders’ executive producer Ben Wadey has promised some of the soap’s “most powerful episodes” as Denise Fox’s struggle with blood cancer takes a worrying turn. Next week, Denise’s long-lost half brother Darnell will arrive in Walford, alongside his daughter Grace.
Their arrival comes after Denise is placed in a medical coma as the search for a suitable stem cell donor continues.
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Speaking to Digital Spy and other media, Wadey revealed that newcomers Darnell and Grace will struggle to fit into Walford as they meet Denise and the rest of her family.
He explained: “We have more of Denise’s extended family as part of her search to find her a stem cell donor. We get to meet her long-lost brother Darnell, who she didn’t even know existed, and Darnell’s daughter Grace.
“They’re really joyous characters because they’re quite down to earth and normal, and they’re kind of watching Walford from afar thinking, ‘this place is mad!'”
“They’re dipping their toe in, not quite sure how they’re going to integrate,” he continued. “What it allows us to do is have these slightly straight men in the show, who are not sure how they’re going to fit in and respond to this drama. But of course we’ll suck them into it and they’ll end up within our hurricane of joy and drama.”
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Speaking about what’s to come for Denise, Wadey warned: “Over the coming months, Denise’s story continues, which is all the emotions. Some of the episodes next week are probably some of the most powerful episodes I’ve watched since I’ve been here.
“Have a box of tissues ready, that’s what I’d say. Diane Parish and that entire cast in that family are just extraordinary in their performances.”
We already know that Kim manages to make contact with Darnell through an ancestry website. When he agrees to meet her, Darnell has no idea that his half-sister is desperately ill.
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“The news sends Darnell reeling, yet he agrees to visit Denise in hospital,” our source previously revealed. “But the situation soon becomes very real for him as he sees his ailing half-sister lying there so visibly ill. As Darnell takes in the scene, he panics and makes a hasty exit.”
Denise’s husband Jack is then tasked as the person who has to convince Darnell to give her the help she needs.
“Jack knows he has to find Darnell and persuade him to do the right thing,” our insider added. “Sadly, Jack is not the most tactful of people and when he meets up with Darnell and his daughter Grace, emotions soon run high…”
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
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