EastEnders actress Diane Parish has insisted that her character Denise is still committed to husband Jack (Scott Maslen) despite her ongoing dalliance with toyboy Ravi (Aaron Thiara).
In recent weeks Denise has grown close to Ravi, sharing a couple of steamy embraces, and in this week's episodes he invited her for a night of passion at a hotel.
Whether or not she goes through with the encounter is revealed in today's episode - now available on iPlayer and airing tonight on BBC One at 7.30pm - but Parish thinks that regardless of what happens with Ravi, Denise will always be Team Jack.
Asked who Denise's heart belongs to, she replied: "100% it's Jack. That's not what the Ravi thing is about.
"The Ravi thing is about igniting sexual desires, tensions, validation, and Denise not wanting to be middle-aged and forgotten and invisible. She wants to get old with her husband but she still wants to be seen.
"I think that's true for a lot of women - when you're in a relationship at this age you want to be seen, you're not dead! It's a bit of a crisis point for her."
Parish also revealed that she thinks the 'Enders fan community are torn over the storyline, saying: "I've had a mixture of people who have said 'I hope you're not going to go off with that bloke' but on the flip side, people have also said 'Oooh, what's going on with you and Ravi?' I suppose it will be split down the middle with fans.
"Also, at the minute Jack isn't being nice so a lot of the fans are thinking he's being horrible, but when they see what Scott Maslen brings to the table they may not be feeling sorry for me!
"Scott is incredible... he's a fantastic, emotional, vulnerable player and he's a a fierce and loyal partner. He's got very strong ethics and opinions and he's informed Jack with a lot of that integrity and humanity."
EastEnders continues Mondays to Thursdays on BBC One at 7.30pm and on iPlayer from 6am.
Neil Wilkes
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