Denise Fox
Denise Fox | |||||||||
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EastEnders character | |||||||||
Portrayed by | Diane Parish | ||||||||
Duration | 2006–present | ||||||||
First appearance | Episode 3150 11 May 2006 | ||||||||
Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||
Introduced by | Kate Harwood | ||||||||
Spin-off appearances |
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Denise Fox (previously Wicks and Johnson) is a fictional character from the
Introduced as a single mother to
Storylines
This section's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (May 2023) |
Moving to Walford, Denise has a tempestuous encounter with
When Kevin's former wife,
Denise returns, but is angry to discover her eldest daughter
Kim and Denise later buy the house next door and open a bed and breakfast. Denise talks to Zainab, who helps her move on by destroying memories of Lucas. Denise starts dating Yusef Khan (Ace Bhatti), Zainab's former husband, but ends it after realising he is still in love with Zainab. On Christmas Day 2011, Denise opens a present containing a broken toy car and a USB stick with a recording of Phil talking about his part in Kevin's death. Horrified, Denise calls Phil a murderer and tries to get him arrested but fails to do so.
Yusef starts a fire at the bed and breakfast, damaging it so badly that Denise, Kim and Patrick are forced to move out. The insurance company refuse to pay out as it was arson so Patrick gives Denise and Kim the Minute Mart but Zainab gives them Yusef's money so they can rebuild the bed and breakfast. When the B&B opens, Denise is angry that Kim simply flirts with the customers, leaving all the work to her. They have an argument and Denise quits but returns on the condition that Kim puts in more effort. When Zainab's brother-in-law.
When Denise and Ian get locked in the Minute Mart's storage cupboard and share a kiss, it leads to a relationship. This becomes public, thanks to Ian's daughter, Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater). Denise helps Ian open a restaurant and supports him when Carl White (Daniel Coonan) threatens and blackmails him. Denise moves in with Ian and his children and are joined by Cindy Williams (Mimi Keene), daughter of Ian's dead former wife. Denise begins to feel part of the family and supports Ian when he intends to testify that he saw Max Branning (Jake Wood) tampering with the brakes of Carl's car. However, Ian fails to do this and Denise is devastated to learn that Ian was intending to lie to frame Max on Carl's orders. The return of Ian's former wife, Jane Beale (Laurie Brett), causes Denise to have doubts about their relationship. She accepts Ian's marriage proposal and during their engagement party, she shares a kiss with Fatboy. They come to their senses when they are caught by Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell). Fatboy's girlfriend, Poppy Meadow (Rachel Bright), learns of the kiss and posts a letter to Ian, before leaving Walford but Lucy reads it and challenges Denise. For the sake of her father's mental health, Lucy agrees to keep it a secret. Denise and Ian drift apart due to his busy lifestyle. After visiting Libby in Oxford, she plans to leave Ian. However, when Lucy is murdered (see "Who Killed Lucy Beale?"), Denise feels forced to stay and support him. Denise is sidelined by Ian and decides to leave, confiding in Patrick that she feels trapped. However, worried that she will look like a bad person, Denise changes her mind and returns but still feels ostracised. She does not attend Lucy's funeral after seeing Ian and Jane comforting one another. Under advice from Libby, Denise tells Ian she can no longer be with him but he begs her to stay. Denise agrees to stay when Ian admits he has taken her for granted and encourages her to go with Libby to Spain to celebrate Chelsea's birthday.
On Denise's return, things are much better between her and Ian and he arranges for them to visit Libby in Oxford for a weekend. As she is about to leave, Patrick tries to stop her, but fails and leaves a message, asking her to call him as soon as possible. However, she learns that Patrick has had a stroke and they return to Walford. When he leaves hospital, he stays with Ian and Denise. Denise learns that Ian had sex with prostitute Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks) on the night Lucy died. Feeling betrayed, Denise locks herself in the Minute Mart. On returning home, she discovers that Cindy has returned and that Ian has delivered her newborn daughter, Beth. She tells Ian that she forgives him but leaves him the next day, taking Patrick back to live in his own house, declaring that Ian isn't the man she loved. Going into Patrick's house, Denise is devastated to find that the house has been broken into. Denise struggles to care for Patrick alone, despite support from Shabnam Masood (Rakhee Thakrar). She finds that Denise has been stealing alcohol from the shop but does not report it if Denise returns the value. Patrick is devastated to learn that he may lose his allotment so Denise goes there, intending to maintain it, only to dig up Lucy's phone and purse. Although hesitant, she returns them to the Beales.
On New Year's Eve, a pregnant Kim surprises Denise and accuses Ian of ruining Denise's life. The next day, Kim finds bruises on Patrick's arms and realises Denise had beaten him and confronts her. At the pub, Denise gets drunk, and after hearing of
Denise is visited by the police, saying someone in their custody has given her address as theirs. Eventually she realises that it is Jordan (now played by
Denise befriends
Denise later learns that her son's potential adoptive parents have named him Raymond and she signs the adoption forms. While she is adamant that she will not change her mind after that, she continues to struggle with her decision and angrily tears up a newly arrived letter from Raymond's adoptive parents without reading it. Kim then wrongly believes that Ian is Raymond's biological father and confronts him, causing Denise to break down and admit to her that Phil is the father, shocking Kim, and she begs Kim not to tell anyone. With Kim's help, Denise finds the letter from Raymond's parents in the recycling bin, informing her that he is happy with them, which comforts and reassures her. Denise and Kush start a relationship, but when Denise talks to a reporter, criticizing the community and the Minute Mart, she quits her job after they decide to send her on a course. Denise struggles financially and is unable to buy food, taking food from bins. She ends her relationship with Kush because she does not want to admit her problems. Carmel later confronts her over this, but Denise slaps her when she makes a remark about Raymond, ending their friendship. Denise eventually claims for Universal Credit, but is stunned that she will not receive money for ten weeks as she left her job voluntarily, but is given a referral to a food bank. Denise leaves the food bank when she sees Cora, who works there. Cora persuades Denise to get some food and explains that when she first used the food bank, she was abusive, but it saved her life. Denise gives her food to the children of a young mother, Candice (Maia Watkins), who has no voucher. On the day of her final exam, Denise faints, but she is delighted later in the year when she passes her GCSE exam with high marks. Kush and Denise decide to try dating again, but when Kush asks Denise to move in with him, she declines, feeling that things are moving too fast for them. When Kush suffers a heart attack shortly afterwards, Denise regrets rejecting him and spontaneously proposes to him in the hospital; he accepts. Denise discovers that Kim is pregnant, but Kim suffers a miscarriage and continues to lie that about her "pregnancy". Kim later cracks up and tells Denise and Carmel that she is not pregnant and is lying and they support her. For her birthday, Kim asks Denise to do a DNA test and she agrees. When the results come, Denise finds a card for her by Kim, which says they are not sisters, but Kim explains she has not seen the results and got cards for both outcomes. Denise and Kim agree not to find out, but Kim gives in and fools Denise that the results say they are not sisters, but is delighted when Kim says they are.
Denise and Kush's relationship continues and she supports him through the death of his brother
Kim revives her interest in finding Vincent and Phil convinces Denise to stop Kim, wary that his nemesis
In early 2023, Denise starts struggling with family issues, including her stepdaughter
Denise gives Kim her phone for an event, and Ravi, unaware, sends text messages to her phone. Kim reads this whilst driving in a car with
When Denise returns to Walford after visiting Emerald in
Following her release, she and Jack reconcile and plan a family barbecue, however, Jack and Stacey's affair is exposed by Martin Fowler (James Bye). Denise then leaves with Chelsea. Following her return home and after a chat with Amy and Ricky, she tells Jack she wants a divorce. When the concrete in the café cracks, the six become worried that Keanu's body will be found. Stacey accompanies Denise to retrieve her D necklace and whilst they are in the process of digging the concrete, Jack walks in. Denise is forced to admit that Keanu's body is buried under the floor and that she and Stacey helped to cover up his murder. Jack decides to help Denise but she refuses to reconcile with Jack when he asks to resume their marriage.
Creation and development
Casting and introduction
On 7 November 2005, the BBC announced that
Storyline development
Denise went on to marry Kevin, acting as stepmother to his children
When Lucas' former wife
Questioned about the future for Denise following the departure of her daughters, Parish responded: "She is lost without her babies, but then her sister
In October 2012, it was confirmed that a new storyline would see Denise and Fatboy (Ricky Norwood) spend the night together after he rescues her when she gets unwanted attention from a man. Norwood told Inside Soap, "I don't think Fatboy is looking for love—but he's happy to be swept off his feet by Denise, who's this hot older woman he never imagined he could be with. Denise is a scorching woman—she's got a dynamite body and a beautiful smile. She's way out of his league, but there is a lot of chemistry between them. I think they'd make a really good couple. That would be cool. Fatboy may be young, but he's got an old soul and he's not just some young boy messing about. There is potential there if Denise could see it, but because of the age thing, I think she might worry that people were saying things about her. Right now, she's just enjoying herself." Norwood added that while the pair's relationship was sexual, a serious future for them could be possible.[26]
In February 2013, it was reported that Denise would enter a relationship with EastEnders long-running character Ian Beale, portrayed by Adam Woodyatt. On the match, Parish said that Denise had "always had a soft spot for Ian", but also commented that "whether they go the distance in the next few months remains to be seen."[27]
Reception
Parish has been nominated for several awards for her portrayal of Denise. In 2007, she was nominated for the "Best Actress" award at
In 2009, Ruth Deller of entertainment website
In 2020, Sara Wallis and Ian Hyland from The Daily Mirror placed Denise 77th on their ranked list of the best EastEnders characters of all time, calling her "formidable" and commented that the character "has survived everything from a bus crash and poverty, to giving up a child for adoption and endless doomed relationships".[42]
See also
References
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (18 October 2012). "'EastEnders' Kim Fox spinoff – new preview". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
- ^ Executive Producer: Dominic Treadwell-Collins; Director: Lance Kneeshaw; Writer: Jaden Clark (10 March 2016). "Episode dated 10/03/2016 (part 2)". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
- ^ Executive Producer: Dominic Treadwell-Collins; Director: Michael Owen Morris; Writer: Carey Andrews (31 March 2016). "Episode dated 31/03/2016". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
- ^ Executive Producer: Dominic Treadwell-Collins; Director: Ian White; Writer: Jesse O'Mahoney (4 April 2016). "Episode dated 04/04/2016". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
- ^ Executive Producer: Sean O'Connor; Director: Dominic Keavey; Writer: Jaden Clark (30 August 2016). "Episode dated 30/08/2016". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
- ^ Executive Producer: Sean O'Connor; Director: Dominic Keavey; Writer: Jesse O'Mahoney (2 September 2016). "Episode dated 02/09/2016". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
- ^ Executive Producer: Sean O'Connor; Director: Toby Frow, Richard Lynn; Writer: Matt Evans (26 January 2017). "Episode dated 26/01/2017". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
- ^ Executive Producer: Sean O'Connor; Director: Rick Platt; Writer: Jesse O'Mahoney (2 February 2017). "Episode dated 02/02/2017". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
- ^ a b "Kellie Shirley and Diane Parish to join EastEnders" (Press release). BBC. 7 November 2005. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ "Harry Potter star to join EastEnders" (Press release). BBC. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2006.
- ^ Gould, Lara (12 March 2006). "New foxy family hit Walford". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ Green, Kris (9 May 2006). "Lee Ross heads to 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ Green, Kris (18 August 2007). "'Kevin Wicks' quits 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ^ Hilton, Beth (29 January 2008). "'Babyfather' star joins 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ Green, Kris (17 November 2009). "Don Gilet (Lucas Johnson, 'EastEnders')". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 September 2009). "Don Gilet: 'EastEnders will get darker'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
- ^ McLennan, Patrick (10 March 2010). "A quick chat with EastEnders badman Don Gilet". What's on TV. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
- ^ Green, Kris (5 May 2010). "Pics: Lucas to kill loved one in 'EastEnders'?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
- ^ Green, Kris (2 April 2010). "Tiana Benjamin quits 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
- ^ Green, Kris (17 April 2010). "Six characters to leave 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
- ^ Green, Kris (10 May 2010). "'EastEnders' Lucas: The camera can lie..." (video). Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
- ^ "Denise Johnson needs Enders miracle". The List. 29 June 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
- ITV.
- ^ a b "Diane Parish: 'I can breathe a sigh of relief'". What's on TV. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (23 July 2010). "Exclusive: Diane Parish (Denise Johnson, 'EastEnders')". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (10 October 2012). "'EastEnders' Ricky Norwood: 'Fatboy and Denise have potential'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ Daniels, Colin (10 February 2013). "'EastEnders' Ian Beale, Denise Fox to date". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ Green, Kris (27 May 2007). "The British Soap Awards 2007: The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ^ "Bubble Awards 2007". BBC Online. 1 March 2007. Archived from the original on 1 March 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
- ^ Wightman, Catriona (13 July 2010). "In Full: Inside Soap Awards 2010 Nominees". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 17 October 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ^ "TV Choice Awards!". BBC Online. 18 May 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (12 January 2011). "In Full: NTA'S 2011 nominations". Digital Spy. London. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ^ Greenwood, Carl (17 March 2014). "British Soap Awards 2014 longlist". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ Brown, David. "British Soap Awards 2014: full list of winners revealed". Radio Times.
- ^ Harp, Justin (22 August 2017). "Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks all make the Inside Soap Awards longlist". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (31 October 2017). "Inside Soap Awards 2017 shortlist revealed – which Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars are up for prizes?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ Deller, Ruth (28 February 2009). "Soapstar Superstars: February". Lowculture. Archived from the original on 9 September 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ Shelley, Jim (2 August 2010). "EastEnders story of Lucas murder plot is not the bee's Denise". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- Wales on Sunday. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ^ "What a difference a year makes!". Inside Soap (52): 43. 1 January 2011.
- ^ a b "The crazy world of Denise Fox". Inside Soap (14): 42–43. 6–12 April 2013.
- ^ Sara Wallis; Ian Hyland (12 June 2020). "100 Best EastEnders characters ever". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 20 October 2023.