HOTTES NEWS TODAY!!! Exclusive: EastEnders’ Diane Parish reveals uncertain future for Denise in cancer story

EastEnders star Diane Parish has confirmed that her character Denise Fox will face an uncertain future as she is blindsided by news of a serious illness. It was recently confirmed that Denise will soon be diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a form of blood cancer, after undergoing tests for her unexplained tiredness.

In a new storyline that will play out across the rest of the year, EastEnders will explore the impact on Denise and her loved ones in the wake of her diagnosis.

Speaking exclusively to Inside Soap, Diane explained that Denise will struggle to come to terms with her illness, having originally assumed her fatigue was caused by something else.

“She is definitely in a bit of a daze,” she revealed. “At first there’s a certain amount of denial. Denise recently found out she had an iron deficiency, and also thought her tiredness might be the menopause, as there’s been discussions with Honey about that. Initially, Denise kind of packs this away.

“It pulls the rug out from under her. This is life-changing. Denise is the one who takes care of everyone and is always strong, now she’s facing something with an uncertain, possibly quite bleak, outcome, and it’s a complete shock.”

Diane, who this week celebrated 20 years on the BBC soap, has said that Denise’s blood cancer will change her life and will be one of the biggest challenges the character has ever faced.

“Denise is always in the thick of things, she’s a busybody!” she reflected. “The idea of having to be isolated from other people to protect herself is a huge challenge, as is that loss of control and not being at the head of her family.

“Life carries on for everyone else, while she is forced to have this massive pause. Joyful things are happening around her, and Denise’s reality becomes wondering whether she will be around to see them.”

While viewers were worried that Denise was noticeably absent from the New Year’s Day flashforward episode, this storyline announcement might answer some questions – but there looks set to be a long road ahead.

“Denise doesn’t need your worry, she needs your support…” Diane teased. “We need to be there for her, because it’s going to be a rollercoaster ride between now and when we catch up to the flashforward!”