EastEnders newcomer admits he’s ‘worried’ for his character amid difficult storyline
EastEnders newcomer Christopher Colquhoun is about to make his Albert Square debut as Denise Fox's long lost brother Darnell Larson Jr. but he has some fears for his character
Amid Denise Fox’s heartbreaking cancer storyline, EastEnders are introducing two new members of her family. Christopher Colquhoun will soon be arriving on the Square as the brother Denise didn’t even know she had, Darnell, along with Krysstina Frempong as his daughter Grace.
The two are set to head to Albert Square after Denise’s sister Kim realises he might be their only hope of finding a stem cell donor for her. But, rather than tell Darnell what Denise needs, they simply tell him he has a sister – and he’s in for a shock when he finds her in hospital.
Ahead of their arrival, Christopher shared what he thinks of the upcoming storylines, admitting he’s worried for his character, who he thinks might be too conflict averse to survive Walford.
What has it been like joining the cast of EastEnders?
It’s been brilliant. Everyone’s been so welcoming, and I’m absolutely loving it. I have huge respect for the actors in EastEnders. They work under immense time pressures yet consistently strive to deliver truthful, nuanced and often emotional performances, which is not easy! So, I’m proud to be among them and excited for the challenge ahead!
How would you describe Darnell as a character?
Darnell is a real “what you see is what you get” kind of person. He’s a bit nerdy, anxious, curious, and full of enthusiasm; a person with zero interest in confrontation whatsoever. A science buff and single dad, he’d much rather understand how and why something works than get involved in a fight (so I do worry about him on the Square!).
What attracted you to the role of Darnell?
I was drawn to how unapologetically himself Darnell is. He brings a new and very particular energy to the Square, and I loved his warmth, vulnerability and optimism. For me, as an actor, it’s exciting to play someone with his backstory and such a unique outlook on the world and he feels very different to anyone I’ve played before, so that was a big draw.
Darnell is part of a previously unexplored branch of the Fox-Trueman family tree. What has it been like joining such an iconic Walford family and working alongside those actors?
It’s an honour to join one of Walford’s most loved families and, I’m sure Darnell would also say, one of its best! (laughs). I actually went to drama school with Diane back in the day, so reconnecting with her after all these years is genuinely exciting and reassuring too as I know she’s got my back! Also, Scott and Tameka have both been incredibly supportive and welcoming from day one, and the energy and commitment they bring has made setting in very easy. I love them all.
What do you think is going through Darnell’s mind when he meets Kim and Jack for the first time?
Darnell is simply excited to discover a side of his family he never knew existed. He’s naturally open and trusting, so he doesn’t spend time questioning why they’ve reached out to him. He wants to get to know them and, in typical Darnell fashion, almost loses sight of the bigger picture because he’s so fascinated by the connection itself and doesn’t even question why Denise isn’t there!
Does his perspective change when they reveal why they’ve reached out to him and tell him about Denise’s cancer diagnosis?
The penny drops and he suddenly realises, “Where’s my sister?” But he’s not angry about being misled. Instead, he’s overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation, especially having only just learned Denise exists. As the story develops, we also begin to understand why hospitals are such a difficult and triggering environment for him.
Jack remains determined to convince Darnell to help Denise and tracks him down. What can you tease about that confrontation?
Darnell likes Jack, but he doesn’t respond well to pressure or aggression. When he’s pushed, his instinct is to withdraw rather than fight back. That leaves Jack in a difficult position because Darnell represents a rare source of hope for Denise and the family – it’s all or nothing for them at this point.
We also meet Darnell’s daughter, Grace. What can you tell us about her as a character?
Grace and Darnell have an incredibly close bond. While Darnell is relatively gentle and avoids confrontation, Grace is fearless, protective and takes no prisoners. They balance each other perfectly, he’s her dad, but she often looks out for him in ways he doesn’t even realise he needs.
What was it like working with Krysstina to build that on-screen bond?
To be honest, we just instantly hit it off. There was a real sense of trust between us from the get-go, which hope helps make the father-daughter dynamic feel very natural on-screen as it did for us doing the work. We even discovered some funny off-screen similarities. She’s great as Grace and I’m really looking forward to working with her more.
