EastEnders confirms emotional blood cancer storyline for Denise Fox EastEnders bosses have announced plans for a blood cancer storyline for Diane Parish's character Denise Fox. 9 May 2026 EastEnders has confirmed a powerful blood cancer storyline for Denise Fox. Diane Parish's character Denise Fox will be part of a blood cancer storyline Diane Parish's character, who she has played on the BBC soap since May 2006, has been seen experiencing "unexplained tiredness" in recent episodes, and later this month she will be diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.