Okay, so if you’re already hooked on the daily drama in Albert Square, get this – BBC Three is throwing a special night to celebrate 20 years of Denise Fox! As a long-time EastEnders fan, I’m definitely tuning in – it’s going to be a trip down memory lane seeing all her iconic moments.
May 11th marks 20 years since Diane Parish began playing the popular and spirited salon owner, Denise. However, this isn’t the first character she’s portrayed on the show – she previously played singer Lola Christie for six months back in 1998.
Several episodes will air from 8pm to 11pm, followed by a documentary exploring the ‘Manosphere’ story, led by Parish.
Although the recent episodes don’t fully showcase her incredible 20 years on the show, some memorable moments include Denise revealing her husband Lucas Johnson’s crimes as a serial killer, and her unexpected involvement in the Christmas 2023 murder of Keanu Taylor, where she was one of six Walford women caught up in the tragic event.
Oh, and the episode ended with a little throwback – they reminded us all about that whole drama with Denise choosing between Jack and Ravi! It was fun seeing that again, honestly, because that was a mess.
Here’s a look at every instalment that’s being repeated during BBC Three’s retrospective:
Classic EastEnders: 20 Years of Denise Fox
8pm: Lucas Johnson’s downfall (2010)
Patrick Trueman, Libby, and Chelsea are shocked when Denise unexpectedly returns, as they believed she had died. They don’t know that Lucas had been holding her captive in a dirty basement and made it look like she took her own life.
At first, I was shocked – Chelsea was absolutely convinced her mum, Denise, was the one who did it. It was awful seeing her so upset. But then Denise kept saying she didn’t do it, and thankfully Lucas came back, hopeful that they could all move forward and start over.
A tense battle between the Fox-Truemans and Johnson ensues, and the police swarm on the Square.
8.30pm: Denise shares an unexpected kiss with Ian Beale (2013)
Stuck in the Minute Mart’s storage room with Ian Beale, he shares what led to his recent struggles, and the two men discover they have more in common than they thought.
While talking about relationships, Denise and Ian share a kiss. Denise then confesses she’s tired of being alone, but she quickly realizes Ian has fallen asleep and didn’t hear her open up.
9pm: Keanu Taylor dies on Christmas Day (2023)
After months of speculation, a dramatic flash-forward revealed a shocking death that will forever alter the lives of Denise, Kathy Beale, Linda Carter, Sharon Watts, Stacey Slater, and Suki Panesar.
I couldn’t believe what I saw! Nish Panesar just stormed into The Vic, and Denise actually knocked him out cold with a champagne bottle! It was completely shocking.
Things get much worse for the women when Keanu arrives and tries to strangle Sharon. Linda then defends Sharon by stabbing Keanu with a meat thermometer.
10pm: Denise is torn between Jack Branning and Ravi Gulati (2025)
A key part of last year’s anniversary events was letting viewers choose whether Denise should get back with her longtime partner, Jack, or start a relationship with the more unpredictable Ravi.
Denise is caught in a difficult situation, juggling feelings for two people. The tension escalates when her lovers have a heated argument at The Vic, leaving her even more stressed.
10.30pm: Joel Marshall’s behaviour escalates (2025)
After a troubling attack at Walford High, where Joel Marshall injured Amy Mitchell, the community is coming together to talk about what happened.
Denise is stuck in the middle of a fight after Jack attacks Joel, fueled by disagreements about whether or not misogyny played a role.
Before the music starts, Joel abandons his father’s girlfriend, Vicky Fowler (played by Alice Haig), after she’s violently attacked.
11pm: EastEnders Investigates: The Manosphere (2025)
Diane Parish, Max Murray and Ellie Dadd explore the issues raised by Joel’s misogyny storyline.
During their journey, the group encounters people whose lives were negatively impacted by involvement with the ‘Manosphere,’ and they also meet those working to challenge its ideas.
This predecessor to Louis Theroux’s recent Netflix hit Inside the Manosphere is well worth a watch.
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Authors
As a seasoned critic, I’ve been following the world of British soap operas for years, and let me tell you, Michael Adams knows his stuff. He’s currently the Soaps Editor at TopMob, meaning he’s your go-to guy for all the latest drama, spoilers, and buzz from every major show – from ‘Coronation Street’ and ‘EastEnders’ to ‘Emmerdale’ and ‘Hollyoaks’. Before TopMob, he honed his skills at Metro as a Soaps Reporter for two years, and even got on-set experience working on both ‘Corrie’ and ‘Emmerdale’. He’s clearly deeply embedded in this world, and it shows in his insightful coverage.
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2026-05-06 15:37