EXCLUSIVE EastEnders’ Denise Fox actress Diane Parish has told the Mirror how she’s been kept out of the loop with what happens in the big flashforward episode yet to air
EastEnders cast members are completely in the dark about the events of the upcoming New Year’s Day episode(Image: BBC)
EastEnders cast members are completely in the dark about the events of the upcoming New Year’s Day episode.
In January, fans saw the events that were set to take place on January 1 2027, in a flashforward episode. From a kidnapping twist and a wedding day, to mystery links between characters, there were big things teased.
With it being a year into the future, not a lot was explained. Since then new twists have aired that have teased some of the events about to take place, while there’s still so much more to be explained.
In the episode, we knew that Denise was in it but she wasn’t actually shown onscreen. Now we know this is because the soap did not want to give away Denise’s cancer storyline, which is currently unfolding.
But despite new hints at what is ahead, the cast are still very much in the dark like viewers are. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Denise actress Diane Parish confessed she didn’t know anything about the looming special episode.
She said: “I absolutely have no idea what’s going to happen! I keep watching things on TV, little bits of our show and they take me by completely surprise, I have no idea what’s going on!”
Diane also spoke about her cancer storyline, calling it “challenging” and confessing she had “struggled”. Diane told us: “It’s very challenging. I think it’s the most challenging storyline I’ve done both as my character or generally as an actress, but it’s really important.
“Sometimes there have been moments I’ve struggled [emotionally]. But I’ve got the blessing of working with people I know really well, I’ve known for years, and Tameka [Empson] and Scott [Maslen] keep it light and keep it fun when we’re working.
“But there are difficult moments because you’re immersed in it. If I was doing a one-off television drama or a film I’d have finished by now, but I’ve got to play this out in real time because we’re on your television every night.”
“I see it as a story of hope, a story about family, and it’s not just an easy story.” Diane praised the storyline though, as she talked of the feedback she had had from viewers.
Diane said: “”The wave of support I’ve got from the public, it’s touched so many lives and in particular highlighting cancer of this type for black people has been really important because statistically the survival rates are lower. That’s due to a number of reasons, including access to treatment and donors, and because people don’t put themselves on the register, making it very difficult without stem cells.
“So what has happened is, people are talking about it which is no small thing, so whether or not I’m having a hard time, it’s my job.”
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