EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders’ Kim Fox and Howie Danes celebrate their engagement next week – but it’s Denise who’s in the spotlight when she emotionally reveals her cancer diagnosis to the assembled locals in The Vic.
"It’s while Kim’s making a speech that Denise becomes overwhelmed by everything that’s happening to her," reveals our Walford insider. "She rushes to the toilets to compose herself.
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"When her daughter Chelsea follows to check on her, Denise can’t open up – but all that changes when she heads back into the pub and stuns her friends and family with the news."
So far, Denise has been keeping her blood cancer diagnosis close to her chest, having only told Jack and Yolande. With Denise’s grandson Jordan facing a long recovery from his recent accident, Denise doesn’t want Chelsea having to worry about her as well as her son.
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So determined is Denise, in fact, that she is refusing to start treatment until things are on a more even keel with Jordan, despite being told that her condition could rapidly worsen if she doesn’t.
As she ignores calls from the hospital, worried and frustrated Jack confides in Phil over what is happening, hoping he can help find a way to get through to her.
Later, Denise is stunned when Phil arrives and explains he knows about her diagnosis. Angry, she throws him out, but when he and Jack later arrive at Kim and Howie’s drinks at The Vic, she becomes worried that they are going to expose her secret…
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"Denise takes matters into her own hands and reveals all about her illness!" shares our source. "As her shocked loved ones rally round, going public seems to have helped Denise finally come to terms with her condition."
Realising she can’t hide away anymore, Denise finally picks up the phone to the hospital. Her treatment is going to involve her being on the ward for a month, but even though the family reassures her they can keep things running in her absence, she begins to falter as the moment arrives.
"Luckily, someone is on hand to offer Denise some words of advice in an emotional heart-to-heart," teases our insider.
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"The conversation convinces her she’s doing the right thing. We finally see Denise begin her treatment, now a woman determined to survive this for the sake of her family."
As Denise begins her battle with a new resolve, will the love and support of her family get her through?
For free and confidential support and information on blood cancer and life after a diagnosis, contact Blood Cancer UK online, by phone on 0808 2080 888 or via email at support@bloodcancer.org.uk.
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.
