Next week on EastEnders, Denise Fox (Diane Parish) shares an emotional reunion with Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) as he returns to Walford amid her cancer battle.
Patrick's departure and Denise's diagnosis
Back in May, Patrick left the Square to spend time with his grandchildren in Scotland after a call from ex-daughter-in-law Sophie, who said the kids weren't coping after the death of their dad Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey). Patrick's departure came before Denise had revealed her diagnosis with an aggressive form of leukaemia.
During his two-month absence, Denise endured a hellish ordeal, spending four weeks in isolation on a cancer ward undergoing intensive chemotherapy. After a break in treatment, she told loved ones the first round hadn't worked as well as doctors hoped, and she also dealt with the loss of a fellow blood cancer patient she'd grown close to.
Tension with Chelsea
Emotions have also been running high between Denise and her daughter Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams). Denise is furious with Chelsea for allowing the grandmother of her murderous ex Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) into her son Jordan's (Jahsaiah Williams) life.
Patrick's return and mediation
When Patrick finally makes his way home next week, he and Denise are overcome with emotion to see each other again, especially given the circumstances. However, he immediately picks up on the bad vibes between mother and daughter and sets about smoothing things over.
Gray's sinister plan
Unfortunately, it looks like Denise was right to be wary of Gray's gran Shelia Atkins (Sheila Ruskins). She's been in secret cahoots with the serial killer since arriving in Walford a few weeks ago, and next week, Gray puts a sinister plan into action from behind bars, which could place many people in danger.
EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 3rd August at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.
