BBC EastEnders legend exits soap 13 years after debut – and fans all say same thing
Linda Carter has left Albert Square for a stint in rehab in a bid to battle her alcohol addiction and EastEnders fans are already wondering when she will return home
Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) has left Walford after her battle with alcoholism reached breaking point in heartbreaking EastEnders scenes.
After spiralling out of control, the former Queen Vic landlady was faced with a choice between her family and her addiction, leading to yet another night of heavy on the booze.
After seeing her own funeral play out in powerful scenes, the mother-of-five experienced an epiphany and tipped the bottle of vodka down the drain before returning inside to confront her mum, Elaine Knight.
An emotional Linda confessed: “I don’t want to be this person anymore”. Elaine, seeking understanding, asked about her sudden change of heart, to which Linda disclosed: “I saw it all, Mum… what would happen if I don’t stop.”
She continued with a stark realisation: “It’s like someone slapped me round the face and you’re right, the drink is going to kill me, and when I die, everyone’s going to hate me.”
During the latest episode of the BBC One soap, which is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer, it was confirmed that Linda has checked into rehab, leaving some viewers wondering when she will return.
Taking to social media, one fan penned: “As Linda has gone to rehab I am assuming she will be away for Christmas. If she is back in time she won’t have gone to rehab, it would be just a week long detox, which isn’t rehab.”
Another added: “I think they’ve sent her away for Christmas because she doesn’t really fit into the whole Cindy/Junior affair storyline. It would be awkward to write her into the Christmas episodes at the Vic.”
A third person said: “I think she’ll be at rehab until February and come back right before the 40th anniversary.” A fourth social media user said: “Inpatient rehab for alcohol is often 30 days, but can be 60-90 days depending on the centre and level of need.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 6am
