EastEnders star Danielle Harold discusses future plans as Lola exit draws closer

EastEnders favourite Lola Pearce's exit is drawing closer, as her terminal brain tumour storyline continues.

Actress Danielle Harold has been playing the character since 2011, taking a break from the soap between 2015 and 2019. Obviously, leaving a show after such a long time can be a scary prospect, but it's also exciting for an actor to have the chance to spread their wings and potentially try something different.

In a lengthy interview with Radio Times, Harold opened up about her big plans and what she thinks she'll be getting up to in the future after saying goodbye to Lola.

"I’ve been thinking about that," she said. "I’ve played Lola for nearly 15 years so it would be good to do something completely different.

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"Maybe a villain, the total opposite to her, on a period drama. I don’t know if I’d do another soap as I’m Team EastEnders – that’s a weird one to consider at this point.

"I’d definitely like to do a drama with a beginning, middle and an end and not open-ended, which is what I’ve been used to."

She also shared that she's going to continue watching the BBC One soap, and is looking forward to seeing actress Isabella Brown, who plays her on-screen daughter Lexi, grow up.

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"She’s such a special girl, so sensitive to the difficult stuff we’ve been doing. Izzie is like my little best mate, she looks after me and keeps us all in check," Harold added. "She’s already asked if Lexi can have Lola’s massive hoop earrings when she dies – she’s definitely going to carry on that Lola energy!"

At the moment in the soap, Lola's mum Emma (played by guest star Patsy Kensit) has been causing more trouble than good, with this week's episodes seeing her accuse Lola's husband Jay of cheating with a woman at the pub.

EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.