28 May 2023 , 08:00
1068
0
EastEnders cast members found it difficult to "switch off" filming the heartbreaking brain tumour storyline, which concludes with Lola Pearce's death next week.
Lola, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour last year, will sadly pass away in scenes next week on the BBC soap.
For months Lola has struggled with her terminal illness, while wanting to make memories with her young daughter Lexi and her husband Jay Brown.
After recently learning the devastating news that her treatment was no longer working and she had just weeks to live, Lola was taken home where next week she will spend her final days.
Throughout the storyline it has understandably been difficult for the cast to film such tragic scenes, as well as see their co-star Danielle Harold, who plays Lola, leave the show.
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
EastEnders cast members found it difficult to "switch off" filming the heartbreaking brain tumour storyline (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)Speaking to The Mirror and other press, actress Danielle confessed she had found it hard to switch off from the plot outside of work, with co-star Jamie Borthwick sharing the need for the cast to try and separate the storyline from their real lives.
Danielle told us: "Yeah, it’s become quite hard for me to switch off. I’ve not really wanted to switch off, to be honest, because I’ve got to meet so many people that live with brain tumours, people that have lost loved ones to brain tumours, children that have died as well.
"It’s become such a huge part of my life with these people, I can’t thank them enough for sharing their stories with me and it just makes you want to tell it with even more truth than you first imagined. You can’t help but let it become a part of your life."
Jay actor Jamie shared the importance of the cast remembering that the storyline isn't real for them and only for their characters for their mental wellbeing.
Speaking to The Mirror and other press, actress Danielle confessed she had found it hard to switch off (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)Jamie said: "It was very tough. It was important to keep it as light as possible. I’m a child and a joker anyway, it was important for me to have a little laugh and a joke.
"We are very fortunate that we’re not in that position, and it’s important that we recognise that for obvious reasons. It was just important to do that so we could go home at the end of the night, know that we had done a good day’s work and know that we have been trying to tell the story as honestly as we can and in the best way that we can.
"For our mental state, it was important that we remember it’s just our work and really important to know that we can close the door on it at the end of the day."
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.