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EastEnders viewers will get the power to decide whether Denise Fox reunites with estranged husband Jack or picks secret lover Ravi Gulati instead in an interactive Walford first.

For the first time ever, as part of the show’s 40th birthday celebrations, viewers get to vote for their choice of outcome, which will be revealed during a special live episode in anniversary week.

Last year, Denise and Jack’s tumultuous marriage finally fell apart when it was revealed that he’d been having an affair with Stacey Slater. However, since then, Jack and Denise have given in to passion a few times and shared plenty of warm moments as part of their blended family.

However, Denise has been secretly seeing former flame Ravi Gulati since a romantic encounter on Christmas Day. Things are complicated between them due to Ravi’s troubled past, and the fact he used to be in a serious relationship with Denise’s daughter Chelsea…

There’s a lot to consider as viewers watch Denise torn between the two men, but ultimately, they will be able to vote on the outcome they want.

EastEnders Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw says: â€œWe’re all so excited to give our audience their first ever chance to decide how one of our big storylines plays out. Their votes will determine whether Denise picks Jack or Ravi, with the outcome being revealed as part of our live episode. There is a lot to come over the next few weeks for all three involved, so it’ll be extremely exciting to see which way the audience choose to take the story!"

• Find out everything you need to know about EastEnders 40th Anniversary

KW

How to vote

Following its hour-long episode that transmits on the actual anniversary (19 February), for the first time in the shows history, the EastEnders viewers will be able to cast their vote on Denise’s potential suiter. Denise’s decision. You choose. Should her future be with Jack, or Ravi?

To access the vote, viewers must have a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Account. You can register for an account at , on or before 19 February 2025. The vote will officially open at 8.30pm on Wednesday 19 February at , and will close at 7.10pm on Thursday 20 February so the result can be incorporated into its live episode which will broadcast at 7.30pm from ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Elstree Centre that evening.

Once all votes have been cast, the vote will be independently verified and handed to the EastEnders Executive Producer, Chris Clenshaw, just before the live show. In that short amount of time, the cast and crew will disregard the losing script and quickly prepare to depict the drama on screen that reflects the decision chosen by the viewers.

Interview with Diane Parish (Denise)

How do you feel about Denise’s choice being a big part of the 40^th anniversary week? 

It’s a blessing. I’ve been blessed throughout my time in EastEnders, particularly in the last few years. I think Chris Clenshaw understands Denise better than anybody, and he’s gifted me with the most exciting two years of my time on the show to date. I’m really grateful to the story team who created these ideas for Denise. These stories mean I get to show what I can do, and whatever they throw at me, I’m going to do my best with it! 

How did you find out that the vote would focus on whether Denise should pick Jack or Ravi? 

Chris told us all at the same time and our jaws dropped! I did suspect something might be coming between Denise and Ravi as I kept having a few little scenes with Aaron, and I didn’t know why. We wondered, after everything that happened between Denise and Ravi, how we’d get to this point. But I was sure that working with an actor like Aaron, who is wonderful, inquisitive, curious and committed, that it would work. So, while I was shocked, I knew this was going to be very interesting as I would be doing this story with two amazing actors. 

What are your favourite Denise storylines from nearly 19 years in the show? 

I have got three favourites. The storyline between Denise and Lucas, when he had her captive. I loved that story and working with my lovely Don Gilet, who played Lucas. I would also say being part of The Six was a big highlight, particularly the Christmas episode. But, although it might sound a little bit odd, my top storyline now is the psychosis storyline. It was a real acting exercise to research psychosis and to go on a whole journey with it. The scene that I had when Denise was persuaded to go into hospital with Zaarah Abrahams (Chelsea) and Scott Maslen (Jack) was a privilege to work on. So, I value that story the most. 

What’s your favourite EE storyline ever? 

It’s got to be Sharongate. I remember when it was on, I was in the theatre, and I had ten minutes until I was supposed to go on stage. They had a little black and white television in the stage manager’s office, and they were going, ‘Di, Di, you’ve got five minutes,’ and I’m like, ‘Nooo, but it’s about to explode!’ I was recording it on VHS, but they had to drag me on stage because I didn’t want to miss Sharongate being exposed. That, for me, was classic powerful EastEnders.  

If you could swap roles and play any character from the past 40 years, who would it be and why? 

It’d be Angie Watts (Anita Dobson)! I loved Angie. I thought she was brilliant, a fantastic character and I absolutely loved her. She was my favourite from the past.  

What’s the most meaningful viewer response you’ve ever had? 

I love it when people say, ‘You are just like my mum’ or when younger audiences now call me ‘Auntie D’. It’s so cute that they have taken me into their hearts and their homes as Auntie D. I love that. Also, with the psychosis story, everywhere I went for a while, people were coming to me and saying thank you for playing that story truthfully. It blew me away to discover the number of people who are dealing with or have dealt with psychosis in their lives and how prevalent it is. It’s important to tell stories like this to highlight mental health issues and bring the issue to the forefront of people’s attention. So, those comments really touched me because it was so important to me that I did Denise’s story justice. 

Denise’s relationship with Kim is such a big part of her story and something viewers love. What’s it like working with Tameka Empson on that pivotal relationship? 

My bond with Tameka is beyond anything I can describe, it’s truly special. I knew her from before, but working with her, we just click. We know how and what we are going to do before we do it. It’s weird how much we know about each other! We can finish each other’s sentences, we know what the other is thinking, and our timing is natural. We speak every day on the phone, we are sisters, and we discuss everything. Tameka is a treasure, and while I hate having to say it so much (laughs), she is a delight in my life and I am blessed to go to work every day and have her there. 

The Fox-Trueman-Danes household is full of great characters. Do you enjoy working together? 

Yes, we all just gel together. Rudolph Walker (Patrick) is like a beautiful father figure to me, and with Tameka, Delroy Atkins (Howie), Jaden Ladega (Denzel) and the little kids, there’s so much richness to the family. Having Angela Wynter back as Yolande has added another layer of richness, too. When people come to film a scene in our house, they leave feeling ten feet tall because it’s so much fun filming there. 

Interview with Aaron Thiara (Ravi)

How is Ravi feeling about Denise as we get to anniversary week? 

Ravi has really fallen in love with Denise. On the run-up to anniversary week, we see Ravi wearing his heart on his sleeve more, and he’s been expressing how he feels to Denise. There’s a vulnerability there because he doesn’t want to be second best, or dismissed, or pushed to the side. It’s taken a lot for Denise and Ravi to admit they have these feelings for each other. 

What is it about Denise that really attracts Ravi? 

There is the physical attraction, but that’s only one part of it. The first time they were drawn together, they were two lost souls who understood each other. Denise was feeling pushed to the side by Jack back then, and Ravi was feeling the same in his life. They’ve had a long time after it all blew up where they haven’t crossed paths much, but it’s still there between them, and they can’t deny it. They’ve both been through so much in recent weeks, especially with what happened at New Year with Nish and how Ravi tried to protect Denise. That proved how much he feels for her, and there is a deeper, soulful understanding between them that the rest of the Square doesn’t understand. 

Are you excited to be part of this huge anniversary week? 

It’s a gift! I am deeply grateful and very appreciative to be part of such a landmark milestone for the show, having watched so many of the anniversaries when I was growing up. I used to watch and think, ‘Wow, this is such a spectacle, and there was a huge excitement in watching something live on TV.’ So, to be a part of it is something to check off the bucket list. For me, that’s a great feeling. 

How do you feel about Denise, Ravi and Jack’s fates being in the audience’s hands?  

I think it’s genius. What EastEnders does so well is that it’s in your home four times a week, so we all feel like a part of it. I know when I watch it, and when I watched it before I joined the cast, you feel so invested in the characters and the stories, and you are often shouting at the TV. So, giving the viewers an opportunity to decide is a brilliant way of combining the show with the fans. 

If you had to make a pitch for Ravi, why should the viewers vote for him? 

Ravi has been a part of Walford for the past two-and-a-half years, and the fans know it is not going to be smooth sailing with a character like him. There is always going to be something around the corner that the fans can get their teeth into and hopefully enjoy. 

How do you feel about the prospect of going live? 

EastEnders is my first real TV gig, and I did ten years of theatre before that, so technically, I’m okay with live performance. But it is still a daunting feeling. To be honest, I’ve been trying not to think about it too much. I am just going to turn up and do the work!  

What’s your favourite Ravi storyline? 

I did really enjoy Ravi in his manipulative era! It was a great challenge to play this character, who on paper was so horrible with his blackmailing and who’d do whatever he needed to get what he wanted and try to make him still likeable. That was my biggest challenge, to get two sides of Ravi across, so you might be confused as to why you like him. It makes this multi-faceted character. I think we understand at this point why Ravi is the person he is and why he does the things he does. 

Who is your favourite EastEnders character of all time?  

It’s Phil Mitchell. To join the show and to work with Steve was amazing! What always caught my eye with Phil was this vulnerable, deep-rooted and layered man who has all this going on internally but presents this external front. We, as viewers, understand him. For any actor to try to sit into all those different layers is a work of art, and everyone should watch Steve McFadden play Phil Mitchell as it’s a masterclass. 

What’s your favourite ever EastEnders storyline? 

I actually have a favourite era rather than a storyline. I was really hooked when the Mitchell brothers went up against Johnny Allen in the massive house. In that period, you had Dennis Rickman, who is a close second for my fave character ever, and Andy Hunter, the gangster who used to wear all the suits. That era was fantastic! It felt like there were all these different characters going head-to-head, and the Mitchells were being tested and overcoming everything. It was gold. 

If you could play one of Walford’s most iconic characters, whose shoes would you step into for the day?  

I’d love to play Max Branning. It was amazing how Max was able to have the nation hooked on him and his antics and how he and Stacey were both hooked on each other! We couldn’t get enough of him and the two of them together. From an actor’s POV, it’s no easy task to create that energy and give a character that charisma and slyness. I don’t know how you end up egging him on as viewers, but no matter what he does, you are waiting for him to get away with it, and you want him to as well.  

Interview with Scott Maslen (Jack)

How does Jack feel about Denise in the run-up to the anniversary week? 

Jack is gutted about Denise and Ravi, but he’s still holding on to hope. He can see there is still something there between him and Denise, and there are some mixed signals. Sometimes, when Jack and Denise are together and they are not thinking, there’s this natural warmth between them, even though they’re not together right now. They’ve got a lot of problems, which is why they split up, but I don’t think Jack believes this relationship is past the point of no return - yet! 

Why does he love Denise so much?   

What’s interesting is how Jack has come to love Denise. Ronnie was his true love for so long, but he lost her. So, for Jack to find someone else and love them as much as he loved Ronnie is a big journey in itself. Jack has made a lot of mistakes with Denise, so she started looking at Ravi, and he’s been no saint himself after what happened with Stacey. But Jack is an old-school character who is sentimental and a big family man. He wants to put his family back together. 

How do you feel about the fact the audience will decide Jack, Ravi and Denise’s fates? 

I think it’s great that we have this interactive vote. Having this new element, where we get the public involved and let them decide, is really exciting for our viewers. I don’t mind which way the vote goes because whatever happens, we’ll have done our job and told a great story. Jack and Ravi are two very different characters, and they play well together on the show. I love Aaron Thiara (Ravi) - he is brilliant, and he came in with a great attitude and fitted in so nicely from the off. I’m really pleased to be working with him and Di Parish, who is amazing and always knocks it out of the park. 

Are you excited to have a big part in anniversary week? 

Yes, I love to get involved with everything I can! I’ve been in a few live episodes in the past, including on The Bill and the Strictly Come Dancing live shows, so I’ve had practice. We’re all going to be buzzing during anniversary week and the live because the show is setting the bar really high like they always do, and it’ll be great fun. 

The 40^th anniversary is a huge milestone for the show. What are your favourite memories of the show across the decades? 

It’s hard for me because there are so many quintessential moments. What’s funny is that when I was growing up, my granddad used to take me out of the house when EastEnders was on because all the women in my family – my mum, my aunt and my nan – were obsessed with the show and wanted me out. It’s incredible what this show has achieved as a lynchpin on our screens. People watch it when they are kids, and then their kids watch it, and then the next generation watches, too. I find it incredible that we’ve got people here like Adam Woodyatt, Tish Dean and Gilly Taylforth, who have been here since day one.  

You’ve played Jack since 2007. What’s kept you interested in the character? 

Actors generally don’t get to spend that much time with their characters, but this job is different. I’ve had Jack for eighteen years, and over that time, I’ve been able to build him and his history. Things have moved on a lot since Jack first arrived, but he’s old school, and it’s important in these modern times to have old-school characters in the mix. You need all types of different characters to tell stories and spark drama and conversations. Jack’s a proud man, but he is also the sort of man who would shed a tear over his kids, and he often does.  

What are some of your favourite Jack storylines over the years? 

I really enjoyed Jack and Ronnie’s relationship. It was great to work with Sam (Ronnie), who is my old mate, because we weren’t sure how it would be as we’re like brother and sister in real life, but the on-screen chemistry was great as Jack and Ronnie. Those two would always try to get one up on each other, but sometimes Jack would win, and other times Ronnie would win, so it would level out. That dynamic was fun because it was so passionate and complicated!  

People loved the relationship between Jack and Max too. Did you enjoy working with Jake Wood? 

Jake is something else! As soon as we got to know each other, we were brothers. Although Max and Jack don’t look like each, people believe they are brothers. That dynamic of Jim’s golden child (Jack) and the one caught all the flack (Max) was great. Jake really evokes all the emotion out of you in those big moments and he always delivers something you feel in the gut. He’s brilliant and a big part of EastEnders and he always will be. 

What are your favourite classic EastEnders moments?  

I loved the relationship between Dot and Jim, my dad! June Brown and John Bardon had some amazing stuff together, and June’s solo episode, that was on another level. I also loved Angie and Den and all the original stuff in The Queen Vic. The Watts family were really strong, weren’t they? Tish (Sharon) is a phenomenon, and it’s amazing to think she’s still here 40 years later.