{"id":33405,"date":"2023-05-31T20:58:03","date_gmt":"2023-05-31T18:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1838104"},"modified":"2023-06-01T01:42:31","modified_gmt":"2023-05-31T23:42:31","slug":"eastenders-lola-pearce-brown-dies-as-the-sun-comes-up-in-moving-final-message","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/eastenders-lola-pearce-brown-dies-as-the-sun-comes-up-in-moving-final-message\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders\u2019 Lola Pearce-Brown dies as the sun comes up in moving final message"},"content":{"rendered":"

“She did it on purpose, Jay. She did it for us.” <\/p>

By Laura Denby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 31 May 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

This article includes discussion of brain tumours and terminal illness that some readers may find upsetting.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lola Pearce-Brown (Danielle Harold) died in tonight\u2019s heartbreaking episode of EastEnders<\/a> (31st May), doing so in a way that became her final act of love for her family.<\/p>\n

Nurse Suzanne informed Lola\u2019s husband Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) that he still had time to say goodbye<\/a> to her \u2013 but Jay struggled to know where to begin. As Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) and Callum Highway (Tony Clay) arrived to see Lola for the last time, Phil couldn\u2019t cope and fled, even when granddaughter Lexi (Isabella Brown) asked where he was going.<\/p>\n

Callum told Lola that his absent husband Ben (Max Bowden)<\/a> was on his way, and that if he was there now Ben would say that she and Lexi were the best thing to ever happen to him. He promised that they would take care of Lexi before saying a last goodbye.<\/p>\n

Jay soon returned to sit by Lola\u2019s bedside, but snapped when Lexi wanted to play music and paint her mum\u2019s nails.<\/p>\n\nWhen Lexi snapped back that Lola was her mum and would want her nails to look good, Jay realised that this was what Lexi needed and gave her some time alone with Lola. Meanwhile, at The Vic, landlady Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) invited the locals for a lock in as they played darts and shared their happy memories of Lola.<\/p>\nAt the house, Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) told Billy (Perry Fenwick) that she felt guilty for being with Jay for so long when he could have been with soulmate Lola. Billy pointed out that perhaps he and Honey would never have split up themselves if he hadn\u2019t made so many mistakes, and the couple embraced. Honey later gave her own touching farewell to Lola, telling her how brilliant she was.<\/p>\nPhil ended up confiding in ex-wife Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) as he recalled how he had mistreated Lola in the past. He then asked his late mum, Peggy (Barbara Windsor) to look after Lola in a poignant moment.<\/p> \u00a0<\/p>\nLeft alone with Lola and Lexi, Jay watched as the youngster told her mum that she loved her and would never forget her. She then left the room, telling Jay it was his turn to talk to Lola. As Jay held Lola\u2019s hand, he said she wasn\u2019t really leaving him and he didn\u2019t need to say goodbye. He promised that one day he would join her and they could have another chance at being together again.<\/p>\nJay went on to begin an imagined conversation with Lola, in which they discussed which animals they would want to come back as. He felt that she would want to be a fox, while he joked that she would choose him to be reincarnated as a rat.<\/p>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--aspect=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?quality=90&resize=299%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=404%2C269"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?quality=90&resize=404%2C269"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=407%2C271"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?quality=90&resize=407%2C271"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-1838349\" align=\"\" size-landscape_thumbnail=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--aspect=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/05\/EastEnders-Lola-death-Jay-361be41.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" width=\""620"\" height=\""413"\" alt=\""Danielle\" harold=\"\" as=\"\" lola=\"\" pearce-brown=\"\" in=\"\" bed=\"\" jamie=\"\" borthwick=\"\" jay=\"\" brown=\"\" watches=\"\" eastenders.=\"\" title=\""EastEnders\" death=\"\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"> Danielle Harold as Lola Pearce-Brown in bed as Jamie Borthwick as Jay Brown watches in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nAs Lexi slept by her mum\u2019s side, Jay left to use the toilet, continuing to talk to Lola in their usual banter style as he emerged. As he returned to Lola, he announced that the sun had come out for her. But at that moment, Jay realised that Lola had passed away while he was out of the room.<\/p>\nHe sobbed, devastated as he had promised he wouldn\u2019t leave her. But Lexi woke up and told her stepdad that Lola had done this on purpose to protect them, and the pair clung onto Lola and cried. Outside, the sun continued to shine as a fox wandered across the Square, all while composer Simon May\u2019s famous \u2018Julia\u2019s Theme\u2019 twinkled in the background in tribute to Lola.<\/p>\nThis emotional instalment marks the end of star Danielle Harold\u2019s time on EastEnders after 12 years. Harold, alongside co-stars Borthwick, Brown and Fenwick have earned praise for their moving portrayal of Lola\u2019s illness, with the character\u2019s death now leaving a huge hole as her loved ones cope with her loss.<\/p>\nFor information, help and support on matters associated with this storyline, head to\u00a0<a href=\"\/\/www.macmillan.org.uk\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Macmillan Cancer Support<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"\/\/www.braintumourresearch.org\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Brain Tumour Research<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\nRead more:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/soaps\/eastenders\/eastenders-spoilers-next-week-linda-suspicious-suki-plot\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">4 EastEnders spoilers next week: Linda is suspicious and Suki plots against Nish<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\""standard-list__item-link"\" href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/soaps\/eastenders\/eastenders-danielle-harold-lola-death-difficult-newsupdate\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">EastEnders\u2019 Danielle Harold: Lola\u2019s death \u201cthe most difficult thing\u201d she\u2019s ever filmed<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\""standard-list__item-link"\" href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/soaps\/eastenders\/eastenders-spoilers-ben-mitchell-jay-brown-clash-newsupdate\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">EastEnders spoilers: Ben and Jay to clash after Lola\u2019s tragic death<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\""standard-list__item-link"\" href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/soaps\/eastenders\/eastenders-danielle-harold-lola-chris-clenshaw-exit-newsupdate\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Danielle Harold praises EastEnders boss for Lola\u2019s emotional exit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/soaps\/eastenders\/eastenders-spoilers-jay-brown-unlikely-friendship-newsupdate\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">EastEnders spoilers: Jay Brown for \u201cunlikely friendship\u201d after Lola dies<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer.\u00a0<\/strong>Visit our dedicated\u00a0<a href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/soaps\/eastenders\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">EastEnders<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0page\u00a0<\/strong>for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers.<\/strong><\/p>\nTake part in <a href=\""https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/the-screen-test\/"\" data-loopstyle=\""link"\">the Screen Test<\/a>, a project from Radio Times and the Universities of Sussex and Brighton, to explore the role of television and audio in our lives.<\/strong><\/p>\nTry Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only \u00a31 with delivery to your home \u2013\u00a0<\/strong><a title=\""https:\/\/radiotimes.com\/magazine-subscription?utm_term=evergreen-article"\" href=\"\/\/radiotimes.com\/magazine-subscription?utm_term=evergreen-article"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\""https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/radiotimes.com\/magazine-subscription?utm_term%3Devergreen-article&source=gmail&ust=1685535119997000&usg=AOvVaw2N1A-fw2dmYMZb7WhOCkOE"\">subscribe now<\/strong><\/a>. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to\u00a0<\/strong><a title=\""https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/audio\/podcasts\/"\" href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/audio\/podcasts\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\""https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/audio\/podcasts\/&source=gmail&ust=1685535119997000&usg=AOvVaw0k64pGuE2apcsqQF8Z0cP3"\">The Radio Times Podcast<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “She did it on purpose, Jay. 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