Who is enjoying Denise at the moment? I'm so glad Diane Parish has been given more screentime! Poor Denise - she is trapped with Ian!

I think that she's been very well written at the absolute least and Diane deserves lots of plaudits for how fantastically she's played her, although in my opinion she's always been brilliant. The storyline of how she feels trapped in a loveless engagement she can't get out off is an interesting subplot in the background of the Lucy murder and even before I thought Diane did amazing as the woman who was just existing in the background of a family, you get the feeling that Ian seems to value her as just part of the furniture most of the time and I think Diane has played a huge part in how wonderfully that's came across

Sometimes I feel certain that she's going to be involved in Lucy's death though and other times I'm not sure which on a personal level is threatening. I don't find it too hard to believe that after the life she's been through she could easily have snapped but at the same time her storyline of feeling trapped is enough involvement needed in the murder storyline for Denise alone

It's consistent because I remember that's how he made Jane feel. Like she was one of his employees.

Yet once he had Denise settled as his childminder the novelty wore off and now he's back to idolising Jane.

No doubt when she returns later in the year she'll be back to being stressed out Jane sweating in the restaurant kitchen.

Denise needs some loving. Someone suggested Denise and David Wicks - oh yes!

But yeah, Diane's a great actress, always enjoy seeing her on screen.

Denise is the best thing about this storyline. She's actually the only character I'm connecting with. The Beales, Bobby excluded, are a horrible lot. Lucy was a snidey bitch so I'm finding it hard to feel moved by her death and then there's the selfish Ian and Jane who only ever think of themselves. I may have sympathised with Peter if he hadn't been turned into a total butthead who treats Lola like she doesn't exist while he cosies up with Lauren, a girl who almost killed herself when her cousin broke up with her after 5 minutes of dating but who barely seems bothered her long term best mate has died.

Denise is a breath of fresh air. I'm wondering how long it will be until she's had enough of being Ian's doormat and snaps. She almost got out but is stuck with Beale the Squeal for the foreseeable. A fate worse than death.