Two new faces are heading to EastEnders this summer.
The BBC One soap is to introduce the half-brother and niece of Denise Fox (Diane Parish), amid her ongoing battle with acute myeloid leukaemia, an aggressive form of blood cancer.
Beloved D’ has been confined to a hospital side ward for much of the last two months while she receives intensive chemotherapy. She’d initially delayed the treatment to support her daughter Chelsea (Zaraah Abrahams), whose son Jordan (Jahsaiah Williams) had been badly injured in a collision with Ian Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt) car.
Due to the risk of infection, Denise is effectively cut off from the outside world – apart from the occasional visitor, who has to wear full PPE.
Spoilers released today (11 August) reveal that next week, another devastating blow is dealt when doctors explain that her treatment has not been working as well as they had hoped.
Diane Parish as Denise Fox. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
Denise is then told that she will need a stem cell transplant, leaving her and partner Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) to face yet another uncertain chapter.
The Fox-Trueman family had previously reached out to her younger sister Daphne and mum Emerald to have their stem cells checked, though unfortunately neither were a match.
But could the introduction of the newcomers change everything?
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Christopher Colquhoun, who is known for roles in Absentia and Fleabag, will play Denise’s half-brother Darnell Larson Jr, while Krysstina Frempong (Too Much, Essex Girls) will play his daughter Grace.
A statement from the soap teased that the clan will be “left reeling” by Kim Fox’s (Tameka Empson) shocking discovery of the Larsons, and that “their introduction is far from straightforward.”
Speaking of his casting, Colquhoun said: “I am thrilled to be finally moving to Walford after all these years, and the welcome I’ve received has been phenomenal.
Christopher Colquhoun and Krysstina Frempong play Darnell Jr and Grace Larson.
“Hearing I’d got the role was an absolute doof doof moment for me… hopefully there’ll be plenty more of those to come!”
Frempong added: “I am extremely excited to be joining EastEnders! I have watched the show for as long as I can remember and have such vivid memories of gathering around the TV with my family, especially at Christmas, to watch all the drama unfolding on the Square, so it feels pretty surreal to now be a part of the action!
Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) will track down the newcomers. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
“I’m really looking forward to working with, and learning from my new colleagues, whom I’ve long admired, and hope audiences enjoy getting to know Grace and all the complexities she’ll bring to their screens!”
Executive producer Ben Wadey said it was “great to delve into this wider family network.”
“Kim’s discovery uncovers a new branch of the Fox-Trueman family, and we’re excited to introduce viewers to new members of their extended family,” he said.
“We’re delighted to welcome Christopher and Krysstina to the cast as we bring two new faces to Walford.”
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