EastEnders welcomes a veteran actress to Walford next week, with viewers likely recognising the face of Gray Atkins' grandmother. Sheila Ruskin, 80, takes on the role of Sheila, arriving in Albert Square as the Fox family faces a health crisis.
Denise's Leukaemia Diagnosis
As fans of the BBC soap recall, Jordan Fox (Jahsaiah Williams) was struck by Ian Beale's (Adam Woodyatt) car, leaving the four-year-old needing urgent spinal surgery. Meanwhile, Denise Fox (Diane Parish) has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and requires immediate treatment, but she is frantic about her grandson.
On Monday (June 15), Denise ignores repeated calls from Walford General, determined to start treatment on her terms. Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) fears losing his wife and confides in Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), who shares a child with Denise; together they ponder how to reach her.
Later, the family gathers at The Vic to celebrate Kim Fox's (Tameka Empson) and Howie Dane's (Delroy Atkinson) engagement, but Denise becomes overwhelmed and reveals her diagnosis, leaving everyone shell-shocked.
Family Reunions and Secrets
The following day, Chelsea calls her younger sister Libby Fox (Belinda Owusu), who returns to Albert Square to visit their mother. Despite underlying tension, the sisters reconcile and share a touching moment. Chelsea confesses that Gray's grandmother Sheila has been sending cheques that she hasn't banked. Chelsea shares son Jordan with Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith), who is imprisoned for murder.
Libby secretly tries to contact Sheila for financial help after Jordan's accident, but Jack intervenes with updates that Denise wants to see both daughters. At the hospital, Denise asks them to pledge to care for each other, and both agree to be tested as possible bone marrow matches.
At The Vic, Libby tries to hide a message from Sheila but is confronted by Chelsea. Chelsea later confides in Eve (Heather Peace) about wanting what's best for Jordan, before reconciling with Libby and calling Sheila for help. Anxious but supported by Libby, Chelsea meets Sheila and feels reassured, discovering Sheila has no connection with Gray after enquiries. Sheila offers financial support for Jordan, which Chelsea initially accepts but later declines, overwhelmed with guilt. But is everything as it appears?
Who Plays Gray's Nan Sheila in EastEnders?
Sheila is brought to life by veteran performer Sheila Ruskin. The 80-year-old boasts a distinguished career spanning five decades, featuring in numerous beloved TV programmes. In 1971, she played Sheila Knight in the period piece Masterpiece, and in 1980, she embodied Diana Crawley in Mackenzie. Her early appearances include The Sweeney, The Pallisers, Life and Death of Penelope, Bergerac, and I, Claudius. She is particularly renowned for portraying Kassia in Doctor Who in 1981.
Throughout the 1990s, she featured as Mrs Royden in the David Jason series A Touch of Frost and played Mrs Dunstan in Bad Girls. In 2001, she joined EastEnders for a short stint as a judge and also appeared in Midsomer Murders, Holby City, and Doctors. Most recently, she starred in the 2023 John Lewis Christmas advert, telling the story of a boy who mistakenly grows a Venus flytrap instead of a Christmas tree but cherishes it anyway.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer.
