EastEnders actress Danielle Harold has spoken out over her final scenes as Lola Pearce, as she dies on the BBC soap next week.
In tragic scenes, Lola will pass away just months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour which she learned was terminal last year.
Her prognosis drastically changed this year from sixth months to just weeks, as her health deteriorated.
In heartbreaking scenes, next week will begin with her family learning it's Lola's final days as she continues to deteriorate.
Lola's death nears and her heartbroken family must gather the strength to say goodbye.
Speaking ahead of her final episode, actress Danielle has revealed all on the "difficult" scenes and confessed the "heartbreaking" storyline has been "tough" to film.
She said: "It’s been really difficult filming these last few scenes over because it does get really tough, especially towards the end.
"It’s such an a heartbreaking diagnosis and it’s not nice to watch or to play, so working with the charities has been so important for us because we want to portray Lola’s diagnosis both accurately and sensitively while also raising awareness to hopefully make a change."
On Lola's condition next week, Danielle explained that Lola is aware that she has just days to live as she says goodbye to her loved ones.
She said: "Yes, Lola definitely starts to feel her decline quite quickly during her palliative care. Her symptoms are getting worse, she’s becoming more forgetful and she’s having more seizures so she’s definitely aware her time is coming to an end now."
Danielle also spoke of the viewers' reactions to the plot, adding: "The response from everybody has been really overwhelming but really lovely as they’re really supportive of Lola. It’s been so lovely to see that."
She also spoke about working so closely with her co-stars on the storyline, revealing: "We’re all just so close, we’re like a real family unit – both on and off screen!
"It’s been so special doing this with them and I really couldn’t have done this with anyone else because we just all work in such a great way together and taking on this story was such a team effort from all of us."
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
