“LOLA’S DEATH WILL HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES”
Her tragic passing is only the beginning of a dramatic new chapter…
Walford is in mourning following Lola’s tragic death from terminal cancer, and the loved ones she left behind will seriously struggle in the aftermath of their loss.
As the family and EastEnders fans navigate through their grief, the soap’s executive producer, Chris Clenshaw, reveals life after Lola will be full of drama – and some unexpected twists.
“Life will never be the same for Jay, Lexi, Billy, Honey and Ben and, in the immediate future, they will all pull together and be there for each other – but that may not last,” he tells us. “Lola’s death will have devastating consequences for the family. It will be a difficult process. Lola was aware of what was coming and put certain things in place, particularly where Lexi was concerned. It was a sad ending for Lola, but it won’t stop there for the rest of the family and there will be clashes ahead.”
Chris also confirmed widowed Jay is set to throw himself into a new relationship with another Albert Square resident. “Jay will move on and find a close friendship with an unlikely person…” So, who does Jay go on the rebound with, and what will Ben and Lexi have to say about him tarnishing Lola’s memory so soon?
The soap boss also shared the reasons behind Lola’s heartbreaking death, and why it was important to portray her condition so unflinchingly.
“It wasn’t a decision we took lightly, we discussed it for months to make sure it was the right thing to do,” says Chris. “Through the research presented about the illness, we committed to the storyline and the charities we’ve worked
with have been overwhelmed by the awareness it has raised.
“It’s incredibly difficult to say goodbye to Lola, and Danielle Harold who played her,” he adds. “You can only tell a story like this with a character who is well loved, and it’s all credit to Danielle for creating that in Lola.”
This week, Ben worries that Lexi isn’t coping and bottling up her feelings. With Jay’s help, Ben gets the grieving girl to open up and the trio find comfort in putting together a memory box. However, it becomes apparent that Jay is the one buckling under the strain as his behaviour becomes troubling. Is he heading for a breakdown?