EastEnders newcomer Christopher Colquhoun has admitted he is 'worried' for his character as he prepares to make his Albert Square debut. Colquhoun joins the soap as Denise Fox's long-lost brother Darnell Larson Jr., part of a previously unexplored branch of the Fox-Trueman family tree. He arrives alongside Krysstina Frempong, who plays his daughter Grace.
Denise's cancer storyline brings new family members
Denise is currently at the centre of a heartbreaking cancer storyline, and her sister Kim realises that Darnell might be their only hope of finding a stem cell donor for her. However, rather than telling Darnell the real reason for reaching out, they simply tell him he has a sister – leaving him in for a shock when he finds her in hospital.
Speaking ahead of his arrival, Colquhoun shared his thoughts on the upcoming storylines, admitting he worries for Darnell, who he thinks might be too conflict-averse to survive Walford.
Colquhoun on joining the cast and Darnell's character
Colquhoun described joining the cast as 'brilliant', praising the welcoming atmosphere and the actors' dedication under time pressures. He said: 'Everyone's been so welcoming, and I'm absolutely loving it. I have huge respect for the actors in EastEnders. They work under immense time pressures yet consistently strive to deliver truthful, nuanced and often emotional performances, which is not easy! So, I'm proud to be among them and excited for the challenge ahead!'
He described Darnell as a 'what you see is what you get' person – nerdy, anxious, curious, and full of enthusiasm, with zero interest in confrontation. 'A science buff and single dad, he'd much rather understand how and why something works than get involved in a fight (so I do worry about him on the Square!),' Colquhoun said.
Colquhoun was drawn to the role because Darnell is 'unapologetically himself' and brings a new energy to the Square. He said: 'I loved his warmth, vulnerability and optimism. For me, as an actor, it's exciting to play someone with his backstory and such a unique outlook on the world and he feels very different to anyone I've played before, so that was a big draw.'
Meeting Kim and Jack and the confrontation ahead
When Darnell first meets Kim and Jack, he is simply excited to discover a side of his family he never knew existed. Colquhoun explained: '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!'
When the truth about Denise's cancer diagnosis is revealed, the penny drops and Darnell realises, 'Where's my sister?' But he is not angry about being misled – instead, he is overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation. Colquhoun teased that as the story develops, viewers begin to understand why hospitals are such a difficult and triggering environment for Darnell.
Jack remains determined to convince Darnell to help Denise and tracks him down. Colquhoun said: 'Darnell likes Jack, but he doesn't respond well to pressure or aggression. When he's pushed, his instinct is to withdraw rather than fight back. That leaves Jack in a difficult position because Darnell represents a rare source of hope for Denise and the family – it's all or nothing for them at this point.'
Darnell's daughter Grace and working with Krysstina Frempong
Grace and Darnell have an incredibly close bond. While Darnell is gentle and avoids confrontation, Grace is fearless, protective and takes no prisoners. Colquhoun said: 'They balance each other perfectly, he's her dad, but she often looks out for him in ways he doesn't even realise he needs.'
Colquhoun praised working with Frempong, saying they 'instantly hit it off' and had a real sense of trust from the get-go, which he hopes makes the father-daughter dynamic feel natural on-screen. He added: 'We even discovered some funny off-screen similarities. She's great as Grace and I'm really looking forward to working with her more.'
