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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zara Woodcock

EastEnders viewers emotional as Lola Pearce makes shocking return to BBC soap

EastEnders viewers were getting emotional after Lola Pearce made a sudden return to the BBC soap.

Lola, played by Danielle Harold, died last month after battling a brain tumour.

She was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year and soon learned she didn't have long to live - with her keen to make memories for her daughter Lexi.

Her death destroyed her husband Jay, grandfather Billy and all her other friends and family.

On Monday evening, viewers witnessed Lola's close friends and family prepare for her funeral the next day.

Billy (Perry Fenwick) tried to keep it together while the vicar was visiting to learn about her wishes. He even lashed out at Jay, Ben and Phil due to the sheer stress and grief.

Viewers were shocked to see her again (BBC)

After a heartbreaking few hours, Jay went to the pub before scenes showed Billy being encouraged to visit Lola in the chapel of rest.

He couldn't get himself to do it at first but managed to convince himself to pay his respects.

When he walked into the dark room, the camera showed the deceased Lola lying in the coffin.

After watching the emotional scenes, EastEnders fans rushed to social media to share their shock at seeing Lola again.

"So sad seeing Lola's family grieving at her coffin before her funeral in #Eastenders! Billy's note at the end by her coffin was so heartbreaking!" one user said.

One person posted: "Perry Fenwick just broke my heart into a million pieces," while one said: "Wasn't prepared to see Lola lying in that coffin there."

Lola died last month after battling a brain tumour (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw previously opened up about why he chose to write Danielle out of the show with a tragic storyline.

Ultimately, he realised he would have to kill off the character given the circumstances of the plot, and he revealed why he felt Lola was the right character to choose.

Confessing he went back and forth over whether to kill off Lola or not, Chris added of his decision: "It wasn’t a decision that we took lightly, we discussed it for many months, and we wanted to make sure that it was the right decision.

"Through the research, they have been overwhelmed by the awareness that it’s raised."

After reading out an email one viewer sent to him after finding herself connecting to the storyline, especially from young Lexi's point of view, Chris said: "This is why we tell these stories."

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