Tameka Empson has opened up about the Kim Fox wedding drama heading to EastEnders in the coming weeks, promising viewers a Beyoncé-level moment and revealing how a gravely ill Denise will still play a central role on the big day.
Kim and Howie Danes are set to marry next month, sharing their wedding day with Cindy and Max. But the celebrations come with a painful backdrop: Denise is in hospital undergoing intensive chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a diagnosis that Anthony Nolan has noted resonates with many people affected by blood cancer. This week on screen, Denise was placed in a medically induced coma to fight an infection, though a potential stem cell match has emerged in the form of newly discovered half-brother Darnell.
Kim considered postponing the wedding, but Denise urged her to press ahead, worried she might not be well enough for a later date. That tension, Empson told Digital Spy in an exclusive interview, has pushed Kim into a kind of emotional growth audiences haven’t seen from her before.
How Kim will involve Denise in the Kim Fox wedding drama
The most unexpected detail is how, exactly, Denise ends up part of the day. According to images shared on Instagram, Kim and Howie are preparing to marry in Denise’s hospital room, bringing the wedding to her sister rather than waiting to see if Denise can make it to a venue. It is, as Empson put it, quintessentially Kim: ‘By hook or by crook, she’s getting Denise involved in her wedding. So she will be a part of it.’
Empson described playing out the cancer storyline alongside her co-star Diane as ‘very emotional and very draining’, adding that both women know people who have been through similar experiences. ‘We just try and do the best that we can to relay their story,’ she said. ‘Being on the other side, supporting somebody who is going through it, has been hard as well.’
The character of Kim, she suggested, has been quietly transformed by the ordeal. ‘She is the glue, and she does plough through to get everybody around to support her,’ Empson said. ‘I think people will appreciate her efforts.’
The dress, the Kimfluencing, and a hint of Cowboy Carter
Asked about the wedding dress, Empson was characteristically coy but hard to ignore. ‘I don’t think anyone’s actually ready for the direction that Kim is taking her wedding,’ she said. Then came the tease: ‘I don’t know if I should say Cowboy Carter, I don’t know if I should say that! I don’t know if I should say Beyoncé might be a bit jealous, I don’t know if I should say that!’
Whatever Kim has planned, Empson is clear that the fun and the ‘Kimfluencing’ are not going anywhere, even as her character settles into married life. ‘You will see a slightly different side to Kim, being a married woman now,’ she said. ‘Growing up a little bit, but the fun will still be there.’
Empson also spoke warmly about the arrival of Darnell, Denise’s half-brother, whose stem cells represent the family’s best hope. ‘Kim was really upset that she wasn’t the person to be matched with Denise, but the fact that she’s found Darnell is also good, so she’s got a half-brother now,’ she said. She was candid about the EastEnders caveat that comes with any new arrival: ‘It’s EastEnders, isn’t it. Is he a baddie or a goodie? Who knows? But for now, he’s a goodie.’
On the return of Sean Slater and other familiar faces, Empson was enthusiastic. ‘As a fan of the show myself, it’s so nice when you see people return,’ she said. ‘Some they know, some they don’t know.’
EastEnders airs on Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One, with most episodes available from 6am on BBC iPlayer. For free and confidential support on blood cancer, contact Blood Cancer UK on 0808 2080 888 or at support@bloodcancer.org.uk.
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