EastEnders has introduced a new character, DC Craig Ingram, played by former Hollyoaks star Matthew James-Bailey, who is stepping into Jack Branning's role at the police station after Jack was sent home on compassionate leave. The move has left Jack fuming, as he struggles to balance work with his partner Denise Fox's battle with aggressive blood cancer.
Jack's struggle with Denise's cancer
Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) has been struggling to cope as Denise (Diane Parish) undergoes intensive chemotherapy treatment. Last week, Denise revealed that her initial treatment had not been as effective as hoped, and doctors would need to try a different medication. Despite putting on a brave face, Denise was left worried about the possibility of death after her new friend Teyanna, whom she met in the hospital, died from the disease.
During Monday's episode (July 20), tensions grew between Jack and Denise when he found her writing a will. He insisted she would beat the disease, but Denise remained practical about her survival prospects as they left for her second stint in hospital.
Jack ordered to take compassionate leave
Settling back into her room on the ward, Denise encouraged Jack to return to work. He headed to the station to work on a criminal case he had spent extensive time on, but was stopped by his boss, DCI Reynolds (Kevin Fuller). Reynolds ordered Jack to return home on compassionate leave, explaining that his colleague Craig would take over his workload.
"Are you having a laugh? Do you know the number of hours I put into this case?" Jack protested as he was forced to leave his job temporarily. "When my wife was ill, I overdid it here too. Helped me take my mind off it. But she needed me more," DCI Reynolds explained as Jack covered his eyes with his hands.
New character DC Craig Ingram
DC Craig Ingram has been introduced as part of a major new storyline that will unfold over the coming months. He is Jack's younger colleague who quickly finds himself working on a case close to Albert Square. "Joining EastEnders has been a dream come true," said Matthew James-Bailey. "From it being the soundtrack to my childhood, always on in the background at home, to gathering around the TV with my family every Christmas, being able to play even a small part in such an iconic piece of British television is truly surreal."
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer.
