EastEnders star Diane Parish has shared a sweet tribute to her on-screen sister Tameka Empson.
The star, who plays Denise Fox on the BBC soap, revealed on Instagram that the Kim actor surprised her on her birthday yesterday (November 6), admitting she was "lucky and proud" to have her as a friend.
Diane said that she had a "quiet" celebration this year as she posted a clip of her birthday from 2023, in which Tameka took her out to the Ritz for lunch.
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"Thought I’d drop this one from last year when this super special little lady, my sis, @official_tameka_empson treated me to the most fabulous lunch at the @theritzlondon," she wrote.
"She makes every birthday sparkle with her smiles and laughter. And today a surprise visit at home was all that was needed. So lucky and proud to call her my friend. We so boojee #besties #foxsisters #familyforever."
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Diane also shared her gratitude to fans for their birthday messages, saying in her Instagram Stories: "Thanks for all your really, really nice birthday messages. They made an old bird very, very happy.
Related: EastEnders' Diane Parish pays sweet tribute to long-time co-star
"There were some lovely messages in there and belated messages today. I'm really grateful – I just want everyone to know how grateful I am."
The star added that she "didn't make a big deal of" her birthday this year, before quipping: "I'm [coughing] years old, so it's not all about going out out. Sometimes it's just about the little chill and relax time."
Meanwhile, Diane recently opened up to Digital Spy about next year's planned live episode for the soap's 40th anniversary and feeling "terrified".
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.
