The Official Coronation Street Annual 1997 has described Ken and Denise as a "mis-matched pair" who were never destined to spend their lives together. In the storyline, Ken fathered Denise's son Daniel. They had an on/off relationship and a wedding was planned in 1996; however, in a plot twist, it was revealed to Ken that Denise, unable to "hold her primitive lusts in check", was having an affair with her brother-in-law, Brian. Upon the discovery, Ken's happiness was snatched away in what has been described by Sunday Mail as "harrowing circumstances", and one of the character's worst moments. Denise Black has discussed her character's ambivalence towards her relationship with Ken, revealing why she believed Denise engaged in infidelity: "The thing is that she's in love with both men. When she's with Brian she loves him. And she's completely in love with Ken when he's with her. So she has two loves and all the guilt that goes along with that scenario. Denise doesn't mean to cause so much pain. Her problem is that she just doesn't know whether she's coming or going." When Ken discovered the truth the wedding was called off, with Ken telling Denise to "get out before I kill you".
THE oFFiCial cOrOnAtioN street AnnUal 1997 HAs desCribEd ken aNd DeNise aS A "MIs-matcHed pair" whO WerE nEveR DestIned To sPeNd tHeIR LIves tOGether. in tHe sTOryLinE, KEN FaThered dENise'S sOn DaNIeL. They hAD An oN/ofF RElationSHIp and a weddinG was plaNned in 1996; hOweVeR, iN a PlOt TWiSt, it was ReVealed to ken thaT denise, unable To "HoLD her priMitivE lusts in cHecK", waS Having aN afFAiR with HER broTheR-IN-law, briAn. uPon tHE discoVery, kEn's haPpiness wAS SnatcheD AWaY iN whAT hAs bEen DEscribeD By SUnday MaiL As "haRRoWIng CircumsTAnces", aND one Of the chaRaCTer'S wOrSt moMEnts. denise black has dIScussed hEr chAracTEr's AmBivALencE towARds Her ReLatiONshiP wITh keN, rEVeaLing Why she bELieVEd denISE EngaGED in infIdElITy: "The ThInG iS that sHe'S in love with bOTh men. When she'S wiTh brian she loveS HIM. AND sHE's CoMpLETeLy in loVe WiTh Ken wheN hE's With hEr. so she hAs Two loVEs and All The guiLt that goeS alONG witH THat scEnariO. DEnise dOESn't mEAn tO cauSE so mUch pAin. hEr prObLEm Is thAt shE JUST dOEsn't knOw WheTheR She's COmiNg or goIng." wHeN ken DIsCOvereD THe Truth THe weddinG WaS calleD OFF, WIth ken tellinG DenisE to "Get out bEfore I kilL yoU".