EASTENDERS’ Lola Pearce will marry on-off boyfriend Jay Brown during her cancer battle in this year’s tear-jerking Christmas blockbuster.
Viewers will be reaching for their tissues as the hush-hush scenes are aired.
Lola Pearce will marry on-off boyfriend Jay Brown in this year’s emotional Christmas EastEnders episode
An insider said: “It’s the big seasonal plotline and there won’t be a dry eye in the house.
“EastEnders fans will be rooting for Lola to be happy after the traumatic news that she is dying of a brain tumour. The highly-charged scenes will be a big hit.”
HOAR first told how Lola, played by Danielle Harold, is being killed off by a devastating brain tumour.
We can also reveal how Danielle has been getting close on set to her co-star Jamie Borthwick, who plays Jay.
A soap source said: “In real life Danielle and Jamie have been getting very, very close.
“Talk of the duo has been rife on set. Let’s just say they won’t have to stretch themselves when filming the romantic scenes together.”
Soap bosses were determined the exit of the popular character Lola will be handled with “grace and care”, and have worked alongside a brain tumour charity to create the emotional scripts.
HOAR revealed in June how actress Danielle was in tears after being axed from the BBC1 flagship show.
Script bosses wrestled over whether the single mum character will die from a brain tumour or a car crash.
But now the scripts have been ‘locked in’ after an EastEnders team emphasized the real-life impact of The Wanted’s Tom Parker’s devastating passing from a tumour.
Danielle, 30, met with bosses after her contract had just six months left to run. She was expecting to discuss an extension, but instead heard the shocking news she was being forced out.
The move is part of sweeping changes being made at EastEnders by new executive producer Chris Clenshaw in a bid to stop viewers leaving in droves.
Danielle was left in tears after being axed from EastEnders
Other characters getting the chop include Jada Lennox, played by Kelsey Calladine-Smith, Peter Beale, played by Dayle Hudson, Dana Monroe, played by Barbara Smith and Stuart Highway, played by Ricky Champ. Danny Dyer’s Mick Carter is also saying farewell to Walford – but expressly against the wishes of bosses.
Danielle’s character is a single mum to daughter Lexi, who she shares with Ben Mitchell.
Lola was recently in a relationship with Isaac – played by Stevie Basaula – who recently left Albert Square to go and care for his sick mother.
Pretty Danielle played Lola in EastEnders from 2011-2015, before making a dramatic return to the soap in 2019.
After getting the chop, Danielle said: “I want to work on other things and play other characters. I can’t wait to get out there and see what’s possible. I’d love to do a drama — something with a beginning, middle and an end to the story.”
