Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) was disowned by her loved ones in a powerful offering of EastEnders, with the Queen Vic landlady’s reliance on the booze spiralling out of control like never before.
The matriarch, as viewers know, has been in the grip of her alcohol addiction for much of this year, having relapsed following the events of last Christmas, which saw her claim the life of Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters).
Despite simply trying to save Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) at the time of the m.u.r.d.e.r, Linda has struggled with the guilt of what she did, seeking solace in alcohol.
With Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) having taken the fall for Keanu’s d.e.a.t.h, the other women involved in the m.u.r.d.e.r cover-up have attempted to move on with their lives – but for Linda it’s not been that straightforward.
Bernie Taylor (Clair Norris), who knows the truth about her brother’s d.e.a.t.h, hasn’t made things easy for her, encouraging her to drink at every given opportunity as a way to punish her for what she did to Keanu.
Linda’s reliance on alcohol has thus spiralled and, after a row with Johnny (Charlie Suff) earlier this week, she moved in with Sharon.
Sharon, however, made it quite clear that she won’t tolerate her friend’s bad behaviour, lecturing her for bringing booze into her home.
But despite Sharon’s cross words, Linda headed straight for the Minute Mart to pick up some more alcohol. Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) refused to serve her, prompting her to turn nasty and vile towards her friend.
With The Vic now out of bounds due to her falling out with Johnny, Linda headed straight for the Albert, where she downed shot after shot before interrupting the festive proceedings in the Square, climbing onto the Beale’s Eels Santa float in uncomfortable scenes as everyone watched on.
Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) tried to stop Linda in her tracks, telling her that she was scaring the children, but nonetheless Linda persisted, with Ian taking a tumble and falling out of the float!
Witnessing the scenes unfold, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) came to Linda’s aid, taking the landlady back home to her pub.
A heart-to-heart ensued, with Lauren and Phil discussing with Linda the harsh reality of being an addict as theyurging her to accept help.
Linda ultimately admitted that she was an alcoholic and agreed to attend a meeting with them later that evening, much to the relief of Johnny.
Johnny, however, came to realise that his mum was still eyeing up the booze and ordered her out. Sharon, meanwhile, refused to let Linda back in after she previously terrified Albie, with the Carter matriarch branding her mate a ‘witch’.
Linda retreated to the cafe with a bottle of booze in her hand. Feeling responsible for her relapse, Bernie urged Linda to stop drinking and reluctantly told her that she forgave her..
Fighting tears, Linda thanked Bernie. But she continued to drink, heading to the Square gardens, where she downed the alcohol, as frustrated Phil and Lauren watched from afar.
As the night came to an end, Linda lost consciousness on the bench.
Will she be okay?
Thursday’s (December 12) edition of the BBC One soap will see Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) return from her honeymoon, horrified by how far Linda has fallen in her absence.
Out of options, she issues her daughter with an ultimatum – and a horrifying night of alcohol abuse will ensue.
Fans are currently fearing the worst for Linda after filming pictures from earlier in the year appeared to suggest that the landlady would end up d.e.a.d. But will this prove to be the case?
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
