EastEnders has introduced a new character, Darnell Larson, who is revealed to be Denise Fox's long-lost half-brother. Darnell is played by actor Christopher Colquhoun, known for roles in Absentia and Fleabag, and perhaps best recognised for playing registrar Simon Kaminski in Casualty between 2002 and 2004.
Discovery amid Denise's health crisis
Kim Fox located Darnell while searching for potential relatives of Denise, who has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Denise has undergone two rounds of intensive chemotherapy, but doctors informed her earlier this month that neither round has had the desired effect on her cancer. A stem cell transplant is therefore the next phase of treatment.
Due to a serious chest infection, Denise was placed in a medically induced coma, with doctors assuring her that this gives her a better chance of survival. Kim, unable to visit her sister because of a cold, instead searched for any long-lost relatives who might be a match for Denise. To her shock, a long-lost brother named Darnell was discovered via an ancestry website, and the hunt began to track him down.
Darnell's reaction and hospital visit
Kim and Jack Branning successfully locate Darnell, who is pleased to meet them upon learning he has a sister he didn't know about, but he remains unaware of the real reason they reached out. 'Darnell is simply excited to discover a side of his family he never knew existed,' said Christopher. 'He's naturally open and trusting, so he doesn't spend time questioning why they've reached out to him.'
'He wants to get to know them and, in typical Darnell fashion, almost loses sight of the bigger picture because he's so fascinated by the connection itself and doesn't even question why Denise isn't there.'
Jack and Kim subsequently reveal Denise's condition to Darnell, who is taken aback but agrees to accompany them to the hospital. He finds the situation incredibly overwhelming, however, and makes a hasty exit.
Understanding Darnell's struggle
'He's not angry about being misled. Instead, he's overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation, especially having only just learned Denise exists,' Christopher explains. 'As the story develops, we also begin to understand why hospitals are such a difficult and triggering environment for him.'
