Introduced as a single mother to Chelsea Fox (Tiana Benjamin) and Libby Fox (Belinda Owusu) who has come from an abusive marriage, Denise has gone on to marry two additional times. Firstly, to Kevin in 2007, who dies months later, and then to Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet) in 2009, with them divorcing two years later after he is imprisoned for murder. She also embarks on a loveless engagement to Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), flings with younger men Fatboy (Ricky Norwood) and Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami) and a drunken one-night stand with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) which results in a late in life pregnancy. Denise's third child, a son, is born in 2017, but she gives him up for adoption, shortly before her mother tells her she is adopted herself (although this was later proved untrue). Other storylines involving Denise include surviving a bus crash, losing her job, descending into poverty and a relationship and later engagement to Jack Branning (Scott Maslen).