The drama unfolds with confrontations and life-changing decisions across Albert Square...

Ian Beale's been increasingly concerned about his health recently, and despite his attempts to show he's top dog in the Vic's Pancake Day race, he soon gives wife Jane a couple of nasty shocks in EastEnders.

Meanwhile, Denise has made an enemy in Keegan and her outspoken comments to the Walford Gazette haven't made her any friends. On top of that, she's facing the biggest decision of her life about whether to go through with her baby's adoption… and her sister, Kim, thinks she knows who the baby's father is!

At the Queen Vic, landlord Mick's money problems aren't getting any easier… Can he find a way to get back on an even keel?

Ian goes head-to-head with Vincent and Kim in the Vic's Pancake Day race, but it doesn't go well for him…

Ian goes head-to-head with Vincent and Kim in the Vic's Pancake Day race, but it doesn't go well for him…

Earlier, Kush looks over Denise’s shoulder as she reads her strong comments about the state of the community and the Minute Mart in the Walford Gazette…

When Denise refuses to serve troublemaker Keegan in the Minute Mart, Kush comes to her defence…

Kim intercepts Minute Mart area manager Harry Beckett when he arrives to dress down a nervous Denise… How will he react to Kim’s defence of her sister?

Denise receives a call from her social worker and is thrown into turmoil… Will she sign the adoption consent form?

Later, when Denise joins her sister for a drink in the Vic, Kim comes to a shocking realisation… Has she guessed who the baby’s father is?

Encouraged by Jane, Dot tries to get through to a worried Ian… Will he listen?

Later, Jane comes home to find Ian writing his will… Can she calm his fears?

At the Vic, Whitney supports cash-strapped Mick when the bank manager turns up for a meeting… Will Mick get the answer he’s hoping for?Watch EastEnders on BBC1 from Monday, February 27

Denise Fox has a VERY bumpy week in EastEnders, but finally gives birth to Phil's baby...

The New Year hasn't exactly been fun for Denise Fox in EastEnders. She's pregnant with Phil's baby, contemplating giving the child up for adoption, and more than ready to give birth.

When Carmel throws her a baby shower this week, Denise shuts down the festivities with barely the crack of a smile. Her week deteriorates further when daughter Libby makes a surprise visit with the intent of staying for her sibling's birth.

Later in the week, the Minute Mart manager finally gets some good news, when she finds out she's to be induced. She heads to The Vic for Italian Night and shares her news with everyone. But after a week of her own revelations, Shirley has a very difficult question for Denise...

It's not long before the big day arrives for Denise, and Patrick goes with her to the hospital. Her half-sister Kim shows up and things get a little emotional for the mum-to-be. She's yet to fully decide what she wants to do when it comes to the adoption. Will she go through with it? Or will her newborn win her heart?

Shirley corners pregnant Denise in the toilets of The Vic. Mick has convinced her that Buster is the father of Denise's baby. Could it be true?

Honey and Carmel see Denise off as she gets ready to head to the hospital.

Patrick pushes past the well-wishers. He knows how anxious Denise is and wants to calm her down before it's time for her to be induced. They head to the hospital together in a taxi.

Kim shows up for support, but how will she feel when she finds out what Denise has planned?

Kim's an aunt, but will she actually get to know the new arrival?

Kim's an aunt, but will she actually get to know the new arrival?

Kim and Patrick finally find out what Denise has decided for the newborn. How will they react?Watch the drama unfold on EastEnders on BBC1 from Monday, January 9

Will everything go to plan when the locals put on their first performance of A Christmas Carol?

After weeks of backstage bickering and artistic differences, the moment of truth is rapidly approaching for the Walford Players as they prepare for the opening  of A Christmas Carol. One person definitely not looking forward to the big night is Bex Fowler, as Louise's involvement in the production looks set to escalate the pair's war over Shakil. But the show must go on –  will it be a night to remember, or an embarrassing flop?

It's time to put on make-up… The Walford Players are all set for their first performance of A Christmas Carol

It's time to put on make-up… The Walford Players are all set for their first performance of A Christmas Carol

Among those busy backstage is Linda, who helps Carmel get ready for curtain up

As nerves start to jangle, Derek gives the cast a pep talk

It looks like Mick regrets getting roped in to the production by Denise

From behind the curtain, Derek and Denise watch Patrick and Carmel perform

Will the Fowler clan win over the audience with their portrayal of the Cratchit family?

It's soon the turn of Kush and Patrick to take centre stage

Meanwhile, Martin Fowler looks as though he may be suffering from stagefright!

Soon, it's the moment Bex has been dreading: the part of the play when Louise has to kiss Shakil

In the wings, Bex is heartbroken as she looks on

Afterwards, Derek makes some observations about Patrick's role as Ebenezer Scrooge

In the café, the next day, Kush, Kathy and Donna are among those reflecting on the big night

While Patrick seems preoccupied with his own performance

Denise looks animated as she approaches her friend: so was the first night a hit, or a miss? Find out by watching EastEnders from Monday 19 December

Denise thought she was pregnant because of her hot fling with Kush. Then she found out the baby is the result of her drunken one-night stand with Phil!

Denise [Diane Parish] was stunned when she discovered she’s pregnant. Whoops! She and Kush were only supposed to be having a bit of fun. But now she knows her baby’s father’s name is Phil and there's nothing funny about that…

Shock, horror and a little fear… They were written all over Denise’s face in EastEnders on Friday night, when she realised that her surprise pregnancy is the result of her drunken sofa sex with Phil [Steve McFadden] in April.

There she was, thinking the hot passionate sex she’d had with hot, passionate Kush Kazemi [Davood Ghadami] had made her baby.

And her mind was in a panic, as she was terrified of telling all to her new best friend Carmel – Kush’s mum.

Kush’s mind was racing, too, after Carmel [Bonnie Langford] told him Denise is pregnant. He confided in Stacey in the Friday episode: “I got Denise pregnant but she doesn’t seem to want me to know about it…” he told her. “Maybe she doesn’t think I’m father material.”

The hurt was written all over Kush’s face… His first son, with Shabnam Masood [Rakhee Thakrar], died in the womb. His second son, Arthur, is the result of his one-night stand with Stacey [Lacey Turner] and lives with her and Martin [James Bye].

“Go after her,” Stacey told him. “Go on.”

And Kush raced to be with Denise at her doctor’s appointment.

“I’ll stick around,” Kush promised. “I’ll give you support. I’ll be a good dad.”

“I haven’t really decided what I’m going to do yet. Anyway, I guess there’s still time as I’m only two weeks gone.”

“Two weeks?” the doctor asked. “I’d say you’re 18-19 weeks, at least.”

And then Denise knew that Kush couldn’t be the father.

She held her head in her hands as the awful truth dawned on her: she is carrying dying alcoholic Phil’s baby.

“Oh, no! No! No!” she wailed, as the poor doctor looked on.

No one, including Denise, ever pictured her with Phil. She couldn’t stand him. Still can’t.

The night they went forth and multiplied, Denise was angry with her daughter Libby, who had accidentally fallen pregnant and was determined to have a termination. Denise wanted her to keep the baby and promised she would help.

Desperately unhappy and lonely, she went out drinking and found herself drowning her sorrows with Phil. One drink led to plenty more, which led to the sofa at his place and…

Congratulations! Now Denise doesn’t need the baby Libby [Belinda Owusu] was having.

But this is far from good news. Will she tell Phil? The shock could kill him!

And his wife Sharon could kill her if she finds out.

Or will Denise decide she can’t keep this baby? Libby would have plenty to say about her mum doing the very thing she begged Libby not to do. And there’s her other daughter, Chelsea [Tiana Benjamin]. What will she say?

A few days ago, Denise thought her biggest problems were the menopause and how to tell Carmel she was sleeping with her son.

Not now.

“Look at me! Knocked up at 47!” she said.

Now there’s only one thing for her to focus on: what is she going to do about this pregnancy?

EastEnders, BBC1

It looks like Denise Fox is about to add Kush to the long list of men she's conquered in EastEnders, so we've had a look back at all her previous Albert Square squeezes… and there are plenty of them!

Denise Fox (Diane Parish) is certainly not lacking in male admirers, but her biggest trouble is keeping them interested! Here's our reminder of the string of disastrous men in Denise's roller-coaster 10 years in Walford...

Owen Turner (Lee Ross)

Denise should have known ex husband Owen – father of her daughter Libby – was a wrong’un, having already ditched him once for being a violent drunk. But for some reason she decided to sleep with him when he showed up in Walford out of the blue looking for Libby. Naturally their reunion didn’t last long – jealous Owen beat Denise up, then held her hostage in her flat where she tried to escape by stabbing him with a fork.

To top it off, he kidnapped Libby and tried to kill her in a car filled with exhaust fumes! He later came to a sticky end when he was strangled by Denise’s twisted third husband Lucas Johnson.

Kevin Wicks (Phil Daniels)

After a bumpy start when he slept with his ex, Shirley, and she dallied with evil Owen, Denise and family man Kevin tied the knot in 2007. At last it seemed Denise had found a good guy, someone prepared to put up with her hot-headed temper tantrums. But in Denise’s life nothing ends well and her marriage to Kevin was no different. Just months after their nuptials, wheeler-dealer Kevin was killed in a crash involving a knocked off ‘cut-and-shut’ car he’d been selling for Phil Mitchell.

Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet)

Denise may have picked some bad boys in her time, but killer Lucas Johnson wins the gold medal. Having once abandoned Denise and their baby daughter Chelsea because of his drug addiction, you’d have thought Denise would have steered well clear. But when Lucas arrived in Albert Square as a newly reformed preacher, Denise quickly found herself back in his arms and planning a dream wedding.

Of course things quickly unravelled. First, twisted Lucas killed his ex Trina, impaling her on a rake, then he strangled Denise’s ex, Owen, on his wedding day to Denise! Lucas then turned his evil intentions towards Denise herself. He faked her suicide while keeping her prisoner in the basement of an empty house next door. Thankfully she escaped and he was finally arrested and sentenced to life in the nick.

Earlier this year, though, Lucas was back in her life again when she visited him in prison and seemed to warm to him again. Will she ever learn?

Yusef Khan (Ace Bhatti)

Bizarrely Denise thought that her best mate Zainab’s ex-husband Yusef would be a good bet to help her heal the wounds left by Lucas when he ws ssent to prison. But the romance was short-lived when it became clear that conniving GP Yusef was still in love with Zainab and would stop at nothing to win her back from Masood.

It seemed Denise had a lucky escape when Yusef began controlling Zainab, pushing her to a nervous breakdown – only for Yusef to end up setting fire to the B&B that Denise and sister Kim had worked so hard to make a success of! Yusef ended up dying in the fire, becoming the third of Denise’s exes to be killed.

Fatboy (Ricky Norwood)

On paper it shouldn’t have worked, but after all her heartache you couldn’t help but root for Denise and Arthur ‘Fatboy’ Chubb when they began a secret tryst. Despite the age gap, things first got steamy between them when the hapless DJ rescued Denise from some unwanted attention in The Vic. But after a just a few days, Denise ended the affair after Fatboy pushed her to go public with their romance. He didn’t give up though and made several cheeky attempts to win her over before Denise fell back into his arms at her engagement party to Ian!

Sadly Fatboy will always remain as Denise’s ‘one that got away’ after he was accidentally killed off by Ronnie.

Ray Dixon (Chucky Venn)

With Denise sinking into a pit of loneliness, it wasn’t long before she set her sights on sister Kim’s fella Ray Dixon. The pair shared a heart-to-heart over Denise’s relationship woes, which ended in a passionate clinch.

In the cold light of day, guilty Denise realised it wasn’t her finest moment and told Ray the kiss meant nothing. But it was too late to brush her betrayal under the carpet – unfortunately a humiliated Kim quickly found out about the kiss, gave her a slap and chucked her out of the B&B!

Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt)

You couldn’t find a more unlikely pair than Denise and Ian, but with Denise’s track record it could have been anyone from Fat Elvis to laundrette owner Mr Papdopulous! Still, romance blossomed when Denise and Ian accidentally got locked in the storage cupboard at the Minute Mart. But Ian was never really completely committed to Denise, which soon became obvious when his ex-wife Jane returned to Walford.

Despite Ian popping the question, Denise began to resent playing second fiddle to Jane and decided to leave Ian, but her plans were scuppered when Ian's daughter Lucy was killed. She only plucked up the courage to get out of the doomed affair after discovering Ian had slept with prostitute Rainie on the night of Lucy’s murder!

Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden)

They may hate each other's guts, but with a little bit of alcohol it seems anything can happen in Walford and it certainly did when Denise recently shared a night of drunken lust with arch-enemy Phil! The miserable pair found themselves bonding over a bottle of wine before ending up on Phil’s sofa in a night of passion that, fortunately for Denise, Phil immediately forgot – and we bet Denise is hoping she can put to the back of her mind, too!

Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra)

Denise’s best mate Carmel wanted nothing more than a romance with unlikely Lothario Masood. But when Denise organised a surprise 50^th birthday party for her pal, she ended up becoming the object of his affections instead! As the pair shared a cosy drink away from the revellers, Masood misread her signals and leaned in for a kiss – only for Carmel to catch him in the act.

Though nothing happened between them this time, Denise has always shared a bit of flirty banter with Masood. Watch this space!

Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami)

Officially single since her loveless engagement to Ian Beale ended two years ago, Denise has made no secret of the fact that she’s lonely and looking for love – and now the shop assistant has decided to set her sights on best friend Carmel’s son Kush!

Kush agreed to become her personal trainer leading to weeks of outrageous flirting during their training sessions and the pair are set to have a few drinks at Martin Fowler's birthday celebrations this Friday where it looks like the passion is finally about to ignite.

If they do end up together, will Denise be able to fill the gap in Kush’s life left by Shabnam? And if not, who will be next on Denise’s hit list?

EastEnders shock: Phil Mitchell and Denise Fox get intimate

EastEnders: is it an unhappy birthday for Carmel when Masood makes a move on Denise?

Enders’ Diane Parish wants Denise back with Fatboy: ‘It was a sexy relationship,’ she says

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to! Carmel has an unhappy 50th on EastEnders

Denise falls for Kush in EastEnders

EastEnders is renowned for inflicting misery on the residents of Albert Square – and it's no different for Carmel Kazemi (Bonnie Langford) on her 50th birthday.

Denise Fox (Diane Parish) throws a surprise birthday party for her friend Carmel but then does something that gives Carmel no reason to celebrate.

Denise finds herself confiding in Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra) about relationships… And Masood takes that as a cue for a kiss.

And at that exact moment, tipsy Carmel appears! And it looks to Carmel as if Denise is taking the birthday present she was hoping to unwrap.

Birthday girl Carmel gets a shock when she sees Masood's interest in Denise (BBC)

Is that what Denise is doing, though?

Denise hasn’t had the best of luck when it comes to men. Ex-husband Owen Turner (Lee Ross) physically abused her and a short marriage to the unfortunate Kevin Wicks (Phil Daniels) ended with his death.

The walk down the aisle with Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet) was a recurring nightmare as he was jailed for murder, then planned to escape and torment Denise some more. And let’s not get into that unbelievable fling with Fatboy (Ricky Norwood) or the bizarre engagement to Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt).

Masood’s problematic marriage to Zainab Masood (Nina Wadia) ended in divorce, but he has also had his trials and tribulations. Who can forget his affair with Jane Beale (Laurie Brett)?

But Masood, who was at one time getting close to Carmel, is yet to find the right woman to settle down with once more. Is Denise interested in being that woman?

Or will Carmel turn his head again?

You can see this story unfold in EastEnders on BBC1, Thursday, June 23

There has been no shortage of drama for Denise Fox in EastEnders recently – or for Phil Mitchell.

Denise (Diane Parish) has faced one crisis after another, what with Lucas’s attempted jailbreak and Jordan’s imprisonment. But the latest news that her pregnant daughter Libby is not planning on keeping her baby sends Denise into a spiral… and into the arms of Phil (Steve McFadden).

Phil Mitchell (Jack Barnes/BBC)

After lashing out at those closest to her, she soon finds herself alone and drinking in The Albert. On the other side of the bar is Phil, who is also still reeling from his family’s actions and facing his own problems.

At a low ebb, the two find their hatred for each other turning to something more amicable.

EastEnders’ Denise and Phil share a kiss (BBC)

So amicable, in fact, that Phil sneaks Denise back to his – and one thing 'quickly leads to another', the BBC has teased.

What will happen next to this unlikely couple?

EastEnders screens at 7.30pm on Tuesday on BBC One.

Denise clashes with pregnant daughter Libby in EastEnders, then she ends up in bed with sworn enemy Phil! Soaplife talks to Diane Parish about the surprise development…

Denise isn’t happy, is she?

“No, she’s not in a good place right now. JJ was her chance to have a family again and a purpose in life. She’s missing him.”

Then Libby tells her she’s pregnant…

“It’s a huge shock, but she’s like ‘Yes!’ and she’s running around with excitement and wants to celebrate.”

Until Libby says she isn’t keeping the baby…

“Denise can’t comprehend the idea that Libby [Belinda Owusu] wants to get rid of the baby. But she’s old enough and wise enough to know that things always turn out right in the end. She’s convinced that if Libby has this baby, she won’t regret it.”

So Denise likes the idea of being a grandmother?

“Yes. She desperately wants to be a grandma, but she also doesn’t want Libby to make a decision she may regret.”

How does this lead to her arguing with Carmel?

“Denise is arguing with everybody! Carmel [Bonnie Langford] offers an opinion on the baby that is different to hers, so she goes for her. Carmel’s only trying to help, but Denise doesn’t see it like that.”

We can understand that. But Denise and Phil!?

“Denise and Phil end up at The Albert and they’re both in a similar state of inebriation. Denise is as drunk as she can get. The thing is, she hates Phil, but she enjoys prodding and poking at him. She also enjoys seeing him at his worst, because it just confirms everything she thinks about him.”

So, how do they end up in bed?

“You’ll have to wait and see! But I was thinking to myself, ‘How could Denise let herself end up with him when Sharon [Letitia Dean] and Shirley [Linda Henry] have turned him down?’”

Is it a case of two people feeling low?

“They’re both at their lowest ebb and they have family problems. There’s a sense of loss and hopelessness and a feeling of what’s the point? That’s why they drink the way they do. I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who find themselves in those positions and wake up and go, ‘Oh God... I didn’t!’ This is one of those moments."

What was it like acting those scenes?

“It was fun and it was really fascinating. Steve McFadden, who plays Phil, is one of the best actors in the soap. I loved working with him. It’s nice to do something completely different.”

Will this be a wake-up call for Denise?

“Oh, yes. Most people reach a turning point and this is hers. It’s that thing of thinking, ‘What is my life about?’ It’s about time she tried to fix herself. She hasn’t had much in the way of anything good. I’m hoping she builds up from here.”

What would you like her to do in the future?

“I’m ready for her to have a sense of purpose in the Square, to be a bit more self-made and less reliant on other people.”

We loved Denise and Fatboy…

“I loved that, too. It was a lovely thing to do and there was something really special between Denise and Fatboy [Ricky Norwood].”

So you’re still loving your job?

“I’ve been on EastEnders for 10 years and the job keeps evolving. There are ebbs and flows, because the cast and everything changes, and there are always new things to get excited about. I respect the show and I’m still having fun!”

EastEnders, BBC1

The two lost souls find comfort in each other on EastEnders

WK17-EAST-DENISE-FOX-PHIL-MITCHELL01

When they end up drowning their sorrows in The Albert, one thing leads to another!

WK17-EAST-DENISE-FOX-PHIL-MITCHELL02

At the beginning of the week, it's a battle of the sexes in The Vic as Buster's all-male team take on Shirley's women-only side in a darts match…

WK17-EAST-DENISE-FOX-PHIL-MITCHELL03

The Vic's regulars - including Sharon, Sonia and Tina – have a great time at the darts match, but there are shocks in store for both Phil and Denise…

WK17-EAST-DENISE-FOX-PHIL-MITCHELL04

Ben decides to kiss his boyfriend Paul in public for the first time, but he doesn't get the reaction he was hoping for from his dad, Phil, who storms out

WK17-EAST-DENISE-FOX-PHIL-MITCHELL05

After clashing with daughter Libby and Carmel, Denise gets drunk with Phil and the pair spend the night together but, the next day, Phil can't remember it!

WK17-EAST-DENISE-FOX-PHIL-MITCHELL06

After telling Denise that she's pregnant but isn't keeping the baby, Libby has fallen out with her mum, so she turns to Aunty Kim for support

WK17-EAST-DENISE-FOX-PHIL-MITCHELL07

Horrified by her actions the night before, Denise has a change of heart about Libby. But at the clinic, Libby notices her mum's necklace is missing…

WK17-EAST-DENISE-FOX-PHIL-MITCHELL08

Denise hoped the night would remain a secret, but she knows it could all come out if someone finds her necklace at Phil's place. So she heads over with a plan…

WK17-EAST-DENISE-FOX-PHIL-MITCHELL09

Will Denise get back her necklace when she pays Phil's daughter Louise a visit? Watch this story unfold in EastEnders on BBC1 from Monday 25 April

Getting back in touch with her ex-hubby Lucas has turned Denise's life upside down. But while the twisted serial killer still sends shivers down Denise's spine, at least she can comfort herself with the knowledge that Lucas is currently being detained at Her Majesty's pleasure. But for how long?

After taking a suspicious phone call, Jordan tells Denise that Lucas is planning to escape from jail, and wants to flee abroad with them

Appalled by the bombshell news, Denise pretends to go along with the idea, but frantically scribbles a note warning of the imminent escape

As Denise leaves for a family meal, she secretly sticks her note on her daughter Libby's bag

The note makes it clear Denise wants no part of Lucas's plan – but will it be acted upon?

Jordan soon realises Denise has no intention of going abroad, and is warned by his stepmum not to get involved with Lucas. But will he listen? Watch the drama unfold on EastEnders from Monday 7 March

Photos of the dramatic conclusion to the Lucy Beale murder whodunnit on EastEnders

Photos of the big storyline in EastEnders

EastEnders star Diane Parish has revealed she hopes Denise Fox will rekindle her affair with Arthur “Fatboy” Chubb.

Denise showed her cougar side when she had a steamy fling with toyboy Fatboy (Ricky Norwood) in 2012, and after boyfriend Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) cheated on her with prostitute Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks), Diane wants her character to sort out her love life.

“I think Denise could do a lot better than Ian, without a doubt,” Diane says.

“She thought she was supposed to be with someone ‘moderate’ like Ian - someone she could potter about with. She’d resigned herself to that, but it’s just not Denise.”

And she’d love Denise to get back with Fatboy.

“That affair chimed with a lot of women my age! It was a very sexy relationship and I really enjoyed playing it.

“I never could have predicted it would work on paper, but it was one of the most enjoyable romances Denise ever had.”

It wasn’t at all enjoyable for Diane’s children, though…

“I’ll tell you who didn't like it - my kids! At their school, they didn't like it at all. My girls kept asking me, ‘Why are you with Fatboy?’.

“But I thought it was spicy and I still think there's something there between them!”

EastEnders continues on BBC1, Monday, November 10, 8.00pm

EastEnders' Rudolph Walker reveals to Soaplife how Patrick suffers a massive stroke - just as he's about to tell Denise about Ian's lies…

Patrick Trueman has already had a mini stroke and he goes on to have a full-blown one after getting wound up seeing Ian drive Denise from the Square. "Patrick's waiting for Ian to tell Denise the truth about him and Rainie - but he drives away. Patrick gets upset and collapses. He can't move and he's terrified," Rudolph tells Soaplife.

Is it the stress of Ian's lie that triggers the stroke?

"When I was doing research, I spoke to victims of strokes. One man said he lost his grandson, and when I asked if that contributed, he said: 'Strange you should ask that. I never thought of it'. There's no one thing you can pinpoint, but stress does play an important part in illness."

How bad is the stroke?

"Patrick ends up in hospital. He can't speak, he loses the use of his left arm and leg and his face is disfigured."

Does Ian [Adam Woodyatt] visit Patrick?

"Yes, but only because he wants to make sure Patrick doesn't tell tales. Ian doesn't want Denise [Diane Parish] to visit Patrick, but she ignores him. Patrick's desperate to tell Denise about Ian and Rainie, but he can't."

Why did Patrick ignore all the warning signs about his health?

"When he collapsed before, at home alone, he recovered and thought there was no need to go to a doctor. I suppose the message we're putting across is that whenever you get the slightest warning signs that something's not right, you really should have a check-up. Strokes can happen to people of all ages."

Do you know anyone who’s had a stroke?

"Of course, there's John Bardon, who played Jim. My own father also had a stroke in his late seventies. He regained all his faculties and was very strong. He died at the age of 96, so there's hope for me!"

Did this story make you think about your own health?

"Yes, it did. But I've always tried to look after myself from a very young age. I don’t drink or smoke, and I wouldn't know how to do drugs. I play a lot of tennis and cricket and I try to swim. I've become the laughing stock of the pool because I have a snorkel. I have to swim with my head down because I panic as soon as I lift it up."

What’s it like playing Patrick after his stroke?

"Very challenging, but exciting, too. It's a massive storyline and, as far as I know, it hasn't really been tackled on TV like this before. As an actor, it's one hell of a responsibility."

Will Patrick recover from this stroke?

"It will be a slow process. The producers want to take Patrick through the pain and suffering and show the fight to regain his speech and normality. He'll face a lot of obstacles along the way."

EastEnders, BBC1. Click here for transmission details.

EastEnders’ Denise Fox is set to abandon fiancé Ian Beale in his moment of need - but Jane will be there for him.

Viewers know Denise, played by Diane Parish, has been thinking about ending their relationship for some time. But in the aftermath of Lucy Beale’s murder she decides she can’t cope with having to support Ian through his grief.

In an episode to air on BBC1 on Tuesday, April 29, just over a week after Lucy's murder, Denise packs a bag and leaves Albert Square in the middle of the night, unable to face Ian.

Ian’s ex-wife, Jane, will also leave Walford after Lucy’s funeral.

But it has been announced that Laurie Brett, who plays Jane, will make a permanent return to the soap in September.

Laurie praised a scene where Denise walks off to the kitchen as Ian breaks down on hearing the news that Lucy is dead.

“We couldn’t read the scripts without crying to begin with just because it is so truthful, it's about a family and this happens to this family.

“The death of a young person anywhere, however it happens, it's always much more of a shock, I think, and extracts much more grief than someone who has lived their life and had their time.

“But that particular scene where we were in the living room crying, I think Di Parish was just brilliant because she was the one who had to hear all that.”

Click here to read about the alibis given by some residents in relation to Lucy’s murder.

– Press Association

Photos of the big storyline in EastEnders

Ian overhears Denise worrying about Patrick being home alone after Kim is late again. When Denise goes home to visit Patrick, she's surprised to find Ian already there, after cooking Patrick lunch. Ian and Denise have a heart-to-heart and they kiss. Denise tells Ian to go before Kim gets back, promising to sneak him back into the house later!

Liam wants a sick day from school. Bianca is suspicious when she sees a bruise on Liam's side, but is too busy to question him further. After getting a lovely letter from the school praising Liam's behaviour, she agrees to let him have the day off. When Bianca tidies Liam's room, she's horrified to see a stack of paper with the school letterhead on - along with Tamwar's money belt.

Carol speaks to Bianca's probation officer Steve, who reveals he's asked to be taken off Bianca's case because he has feelings for Carol. Bianca is annoyed she's getting a new probation officer with no warning. When Carol meets up with Steve in the Vic, he explains he has a connection with her and asks to see her again.

Also, Tamwar learns Masood was planning to run away with Ayesha.