BBC/Composite: EastEnders Insider Share By Joel Harley Oct 15 2025 By Joel Harley Oct 15 2025 Who was Daniel Cook? The tragic life and death of Jean's lost love Daniel appeared on the soap between 2019 - 2020 Jean Slater Share By Joel Harley Oct 15 2025 By Joel Harley Oct 15 2025 Jean Slater remembers her late lover Daniel Cook in EastEnders tonight (Wednesday, October 15), as she shares a heart-to-heart with Julie Bates. Julie is feeling overwhelmed following an incident with husband Nigel, who derailed her tutoring session with Lily by describing the teenager as a ‘hussy.’ As Jean heads over to confront Julie, the latter grows upset, and breaks down in tears. As Jean comforts Julie, talk turns to her own late lover – Daniel Cook, played by Bottom and The Young Ones icon Adrian Edmondson. But who was Daniel, and what happened to him? Daniel was Jean’s boyfriend (Credit: BBC) Who was Daniel Cook on EastEnders? Jean first met fellow cancer patient Daniel in the hospital, while she was undergoing treatment for her ovarian cancer. The pair initially hit it off in all the wrong ways, with Jean slapping him after an offensive comment. However, the pair grew close over time, striking up a friendship which had turned romantic by September 2019. The pair pursued their relationship in spite of the news that Daniel’s cancer had returned – and was now terminal. Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Soon after, Jean was devastated when she received a call informing her that Daniel had died. This wasn’t true though – Daniel had faked his own death to protect Jean, not wanting to put her through the pain of grief when he inevitably passed. Jean developed feelings for cancer patient Daniel (Credit: BBC) What happened to Daniel? Daniel returned to Walford on Christmas Day, revealing what he had done. Although Jean was furious, she was touched by his explanation that he’d fallen in love with her, and the pair reconciled. In doing so, Jean promised that she would help him live his remaining years out to the fullest. When Daniel’s condition did inevitably worsen, he refused to go into a hospice. Daniel promised Jean that he would cling on to his life until she had been diagnosed free from cancer. Sure enough, Daniel died once she’d been given the all-clear, passing away on a bench in the park as Jean went to fetch them some hot chocolates. “You are the love of my life,” she told Daniel as she bid him an emotional farewell. “I promise you I am going to live being more Miss Feisty – more, Miss Jean.” Read more: Who’s leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders? Complete list of cast exits, arrivals and returns. Share Good to Know Share By Joel Harley Oct 15 2025 By Joel Harley Oct 15 2025
