Denise Wicks

Infobox EastEnders character 2


character_name=Denise Wicks
actor_name=Diane Parish
years=2006—
first=11 May 2006
last=
classification=Present; regular
dob=20 January 1969
status=Widowed
home=18 Albert Square
occupation=Taxi driver
family=
mother = Ada Fox
halfsisters= Kim Fox
daughters=Chelsea Fox
Libby Fox
husband=Owen Turner Kevin Wicks (2007)

Denise Celeste Wicks (née Fox) is a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera "EastEnders". She is played by Diane Parish. She made her first appearance on 11 May 2006. It was announced on 18 August 2007 that Denise would temporarily leave "EastEnders" in early 2008 so that Diane Parish could give birth to her second child. Her temporary exit coincided with Kevin, Carly and Deano Wicks's permanent departures from the show." [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a72398/kevin-wicks-quits-eastenders.html 'Kevin Wicks' quits 'EastEnders'] , "Digital Spy". URL last accessed 2007-08-18.] She returned to Walford on 6 June 2008.

torylines

2006-2007

First seen in May 2006, Denise has two daughters, Chelsea and Libby, who she is fiercely protective of. Despite a tempestuous first encounter with Kevin Wicks — Denise wrongly accused him of sleeping with Chelsea — an attraction developed and they began dating. Problems arose when Denise's ex-husband Owen Turner tried to reunite with his daughter, Libby. Denise was opposed to this as Owen was an alcoholic with a history of domestic violence; however, with Libby's encouragement, Denise began to warm to Owen again. They slept together, which ended her relationship with Kevin. Owen's stepdaughter Chelsea, who had been victim to Owen's abuse, berated her mother for contemplating reconciliation. Denise loved Owen, but regretted sleeping with him, and when she told him, he beat her. Owen apologised profusely when he was sober, but Chelsea persuaded Denise to banish him from their lives, after which he turned violent again; he beat Denise and took Kevin hostage at knifepoint, until he was arrested. Libby persuaded Denise to provide a character witness for Owen at his trial; he was subsequently given a suspended sentence, but upon his release he kidnapped Libby, phoning Denise to tell her that he was going to kill her and commit suicide. Denise rushed to Epping Forest, where the police suspected Owen was, but this caused Owen to try and drown Libby and himself. Denise and Kevin found Libby unconscious, but she survived and Owen was imprisoned. In the wake of her family's ordeal, Denise reunited with Kevin and moved her family in with his.

In October 2006, Denise was shocked to discover that Patrick Trueman had been in a band called "The Five Hectors", as her father, whom she never knew, had been in the same band. Any of the five band members could have been Denise's long-lost father, three of whom, Cedric, Dwight and Earl, had died, but the remaining two, Aubrey Valentine and Patrick, agreed to paternity tests. Aubrey conned Denise into believing he might be her father, but eventually confessed that it was an impossibility. Meanwhile, Patrick's test confirmed that he was not Denise's father, but after growing close to Libby, he pretended he was. Denise was horrified to discover the truth while holidaying with Patrick in Dorset, but despite her upset, she forgave him for lying.

When Kevin's ex-wife, Shirley Wicks, arrived in Walford, she caused numerous problems for Denise and Kevin. Shirley revealed Kevin's secret, that he was not the biological father of Shirley's children Deano and Carly, and in the wake of this, Kevin fled, abandoning Denise. Upset, Denise threatened to move away, but she was stopped by Kevin, who returned and proposed marriage. Denise initially rejected him, but eventually accepted. Shirley tried to ruin their wedding by turning up at the ceremony to inform Denise about a recent sexual encounter she had with Kevin; however, Kevin had already confessed and Shirley's attempt at stirring only encouraged her to go through with the wedding, though she kicked Kevin in the groin before saying "I do".

Throughout the remainder of 2007, Denise weathered various problems, including Chelsea and Deano's imprisonment for framing Sean Slater, Kevin's dishonesty when he attempted to cover their crime, and a feud with her boss at the post office, Zainab Masood, which caused Denise to lose her job and get reinstated several times. In December 2007, Kevin started selling cars for Phil Mitchell, but later discovered that they were cut-and-shuts and tried to destroy them; however, Denise had already sold one to Yolande Trueman. Kevin tried to dispose of the car by stealing it on New Year's Eve, accompanied by Shirley, who was forced to go along by her ex-husband Kevin when she tried to interfere. They raced the car then planned to set it alight to make it look like the handywork of joyriders, but whilst driving at high speed, the car bonnet flew open and Kevin crashed, leaving him impaled by a metal pole. Shirley held his hand while he slowly died. Denise Wicks was devastated to receive the news of her husband Kevin's death and following his funeral in January 2008, she decided to travel the world with Carly and scatter his ashes.

2008—

On the night of June 6, 2008, Denise returned to the Square. After leaving the cab she saw Patrick and Chelsea's dad, Lucas Johnson, pulling Chelsea towards the door. She was devastated by what she saw - Chelsea drunk and on drugs while being escorted home by Lucas who she hadn't seen in over 20 years.

Denise initially was hostile and frosty to Lucas when he tried to explain that he had turned his life around. Denise was annoyed further when Lucas moved into 43a Albert Square, with his son Jordan, in order to be closer to Chelsea.

Shortly after arriving back in the Square, Denise secured a job at Pat Cars as a driver, beating local postman Masood Ahmed in a remote control car race to decide who filled the vacancy.

She was set up on a date with Max Branning when his sister Suzy thought Max needed a woman in his life, but the date was unsuccessful when the pair were discussing their family problems.

References

External links

*EEcharlink|denise_f