EastEnders fans left heartbroken and 'in flood of tears' as Denise says bye to baby son
EASTENDERS viewers struggled to contain their emotions after Denise Fox gave birth to a little boy in tonight's instalment.
EastEnders Denise Fox Phil Mitchell baby adoption Diane Parish
EastEnders: Denise abandons baby in emotional goodbye
Many were left in tears as Diane Parish's character told her and Phil Mitchell's (played by Steve McFadden) son that she wanted him to have a better life and that is why she was putting him up for adoption.
Picking him up for the first time in hospital, Denise tearfully said: "I brought you into this world but I'm not going to be your mum. See, there's this couple and they've been waiting for you. They're going to look after you, because I can't.
"I've already had two little girls and bringing them up took everything I had. I can't raise you on a wing and a prayer, you deserve so much more. Letting you go is the hardest thing I'll ever do."
Emotional fans took to Twitter in their droves, with one user commenting: "Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Perfectly @bbceastenders ep tonight. Diane Parish was out of this world. #eastenders."
EastEnders: Denise Fox has viewers in tears tonight
EastEnders: Denise was seen saying goodbye to her baby after putting him up for adoption
I can't raise you on a wing and a prayer, you deserve so much more.
Two others agreed: "OMG WHAT GREAT ACTING from Kim and #Denise. Especially #Kim. I was in floods of tears. #eastenders I really felt it. Well done," and: "Emotional stuff with Denise tonight! #EastEnders."
Another questioned: "Has anyone else got a massive lump in their throat watching Denise?#EastEnders."
Others compared the storyline to Michelle McDonald's miscarriage on Coronation Street: "All these sad baby stories on the soaps… too much #eastenders #coronationstreet," and: "#eastenders So, stillborn babies on #corrie & unwanted babies on here. Thanks soaps for sad viewing figures storylines."
EastEnders: Denise's sister Kim was furious about her decision
EastEnders: Sharon vowed to tell Phil about the adoption
Meanwhile, the latest offering also saw Phil's wife Sharon (Letitia Dean) find out Denise was putting her child up for adoption, after overhearing Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) in anger.
She later vowed to tell her spouse of the new mum's plan, which would also reveal that she knows the baby is his.
EastEnders continues Monday at 8pm on BBC One.