EastEnders resolves Jack and Denise row – with unexpected final twist

EastEnders’ Jack Branning and Denise Fox’s relationship row came to an end tonight (23 July) after being pushed to the brink. Denise and Jack have both been dealing with the impact of Denise’s battle with leukemia as she undergoes intensive chemotherapy treatment.

Things have been so tense between the two that in yesterday’s episode, Jack approached brother Max Branning for some advice on the situation. After deciding to head to the Queen Vic for a drink, the brothers bumped into Jack’s colleagues, Craig and Rita.

However, when Jack and Rita were left alone, she attempted to make a move on Jack, leaving viewers concerned that he might be led astray during Denise’s time of need.

Those fears can be put to rest as tonight’s episode showed Jack where his heart truly lies. After being left together, Jack and Rita were seen having a candid chat about Jack’s situation.

After opening up about a personal story regarding her nan’s cancer struggles, Rita said that “no one cares for the carers” before telling Jack that she’s always admired him.

Putting her hand on his knee, she then offered for the two of them to “go somewhere quieter” to continue their interaction. However, Jack instead decided to visit Denise in the hospital.

The couple have struggled to communicate their feelings to one another regarding her cancer diagnosis, and while sharing a hug in her hospital bed, they finally had the long overdue conversation.

Jack and Denise shared a couple of jokes, after which he revealed that his conversation with Rita made him realise how much he missed her. They apologised to each other, with Denise adding that she “didn’t mean to shut him out” but she was “so frightened” of dying.

During her time at the hospital, Denise made friends with a fellow cancer patient, Teyana, and her death made Denise question her mortality. During her and Jack’s conversation, she opened up further about her grief.

She also expressed empathy for everything Jack has been dealing with alongside everything, but Jack acknowledged his struggles, saying that despite appearances, he wasn’t coping well.

Denise vowed that the two needed to keep an open conversation, saying that it “breaks couples”, but it won’t break their relationship. Jack revealed that he is taking compassionate leave from work, but their bliss was short-lived as he was informed of Joel Marshall’s attack.

As for Rita, she was later seen making out with Mark by Peter and Lauren, with Mark using the opportunity to make Lauren jealous. But will it work?