Linda Carter gets new love interest in EastEnders – two years after Mick’s death
EASTENDERS’ Linda Carter is finally moving on – two years after the tragic death of Mick.
The Queen Vic landlady is set for a brand-new romance, but with heartbreak still fresh, will she be ready to let someone in?
Fans have watched Linda struggle to cope without Mick, drowning her sorrows in booze and bad decisions.
But now, a new mystery man is about to turn her world upside down.
Will this be the fresh start she needs, or is more heartache on the horizon?
After getting the green light on her insurance payout to rebuild The Vic, Linda’s excitement is short-lived when Elaine starts calling the shots.
Frustrated, she turns her attention elsewhere – and with a little nudge from Kim, she agrees to let her pal play Cupid.
While Linda initially tries to set up Johnny with Felix, she soon realises it’s time to put herself first.
Braving the dating scene, she gears up for a night out with a mystery man named Jeff – but will sparks fly, or will it be another night she’d rather forget?
Viewers know that Linda lost the love of her life after Mick swam into the sea, believing that Linda was still trapped in the sinking car.
Although Mick’s body was never found, the Carter family and Walford residents grieved his loss and had a funeral.
Since then, Linda has struggled to stay sober and look after her young kids, Olly and Annie.
She spiralled even more out of control after she murdered Keanu Taylor and couldn’t cope with the guilt.
After months of drinking herself into oblivion, Linda finally hit rock bottom after passing out in the Square and dreaming that she died.
Linda went to rehab and returned in the New Year much healthier, but is she ready for a new relationship?
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
Most devastating soap deaths
SOAP viewers are frequently left heartbroken after watching some of their favourite characters bite the dust.
Here is a list of the most devastating deaths that have taken place in soapland over the years.
EASTENDERS
Barry Evans – Evil Janine (Charlie Brooks) lured her trusting fiance to Scotland for a quickie marriage after learning he was dying.
Her plan to inherit Barry’s fortune was thwarted when Barry told her that the doctors had mixed up his medical files.
Furious that she was no longer set for a windfall, she pushed Barry off a cliff after telling him their love was “fake”.
Bradley Branning – Bradley was accused of killing Stacey Slater’s rapist Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) after he punched him twice on the night he died.
He was spotted in the Square by a police woman who chased him up a fire escape.
Bradley lost his balance and tragically plunged to his death.
CORONATION STREET
Tina McIntyre – Tina was getting it on with Peter Barlow – despite him being married to Carla Connor.
When she threatened to reveal the truth, Carla’s brother Rob got into a physical altercation with her.
Tina lost her footing and fell off a balcony – then warned Rob she was going to tell the cops he pushed her.
In a panic, Rob brutally clobbered her over the head with a metal pipe.
Molly Dobbs – Molly was one of the victims in Corrie’s 2010 tram crash, alongside Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold).
Married to Tyrone (Alan Halsall), Molly had been having an affair with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in the months before her death.
This resulted in the birth of their son, Jack (Kyran Bowes), who was named after Jack Duckworth.
As fate would have it, Kevin’s wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) was by Molly’s side in her final moments.
Sally was stunned as Molly confessed Kevin was Jack’s father, before dying of her injuries.
Vera Duckworth – Having appeared regularly in Corrie since the 1970s, there was no denying Vera Duckworth was an iconic character.
Alongside her husband Jack, the pair formed one of the soap’s most beloved couples.
Viewers were heartbroken when Vera was killed off in 2008, being discovered having passed away peacefully in her chair.
Liz Dawn, who played Vera, made a brief return two years later for Bill Tarmey’s exit as Jack.
Paul Foreman – Fans were heartbroken when Paul Foreman succumbed to his illness after battling motor neurone disease.
Introduced in 2018 as David Platt’s (Jack P. Shepherd) cellmate, he later embarked on a romance – and marriage – with vicar Billy Mayhew.
The MND storyline was announced in 2023 – with the expectation it would result in the character’s death.
EMMERDALE
Sarah Sugden – After the family got into financial problems, Sarah’s son Andy (Kelvin Fletcher) decided to make some quick cash from an insurance company by setting fire to the Sugden barn.
He didn’t realise his mum was inside the building, and she got trapped in the blaze.
Nine villagers – The shocking 1993 plane crash episode brought in 18 million viewers for Emmerdale.
Mark Hughes was killed by a falling wall, Archie Brooks was burned by jet fuel, Elizabeth Pollard was killed by debris and newcomer Leonard Kempinski died in a car crash caused by the crash.
Five other non-recurring characters from the village also died.
HOLLYOAKS
Carmel McQueen – The talented singer died in shocking scenes when a train crashed into a her family’s car.
Carmel managed to free her cousin Theresa from the rubble – but got stuck in it herself.
Moments later the train exploded and Carmel died in the arms of her family members, promising to be their guardian angel.