Linda (Kellie Bright) and Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) will always be intrinsically linked in EastEnders.
Immediately taking over the iconic Queen Vic upon their arrival, their love for each other was incredibly apparent, as they dealt with life in one of Soaplands most dramatic postcodes alongside their children, and though trauma and sorrow eventually found its way into their lives, their utter devotion to each other was never in any doubt.
Together, they faced a hell of a lot.
Linda’s rape at the hand of sick Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo), the discovery that Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) was Mick’s mum and not his sister as previously believed (thus making Dean Mick’s brother), their son Lee’s (Danny-Boy Hatchard) battle with depression and attempted suicide, daughter Nancy’s (Maddy Hill) epilepsy and the much-lauded coming out of youngest son, Johnny Carter (then-Sam Strike) may have bruised them, but they never broke…until two of Walford’s snakiest residents slithered into their love nest.
Although cracks began to appear in their relationship following Linda’s descent into alcoholism, her later affair with lothario Max Branning (Jake Wood), producing baby Annie, inflicted a fatal blow, with the arrival of Albert Square’s Queen of mean, Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), sealing their fate.
Janine did as Janine does, and successfully destroyed their relationship. Upon their divorce, Mick married Janine, but a showdown ensured when he and Linda learned of the extent of her manipulation, resulting in Mick being lost at sea.
With Janine in prison, Linda grieved the loss of her soulmate, though life didn’t become any less dramatic for her. With her alcoholism proving to be a constant battle, she dealt with the re-emergence of rapist, Dean, and also found herself becoming a murderer when she killed Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) during the much-loved ‘Six’ storyline.
After completing rehab and dedicating herself to remaining sober, Linda formed a friendship with fellow alcoholic, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), helping him through his battle with depression, convincing him to seek medical help after discovering his plan to commit suicide.
After the explosion of the Queen Vic, Linda sold the pub to Kat and Alfie Moon (Jessie Wallace and Shane Richie) and headed off on a cruise with her kids.
Upon her return, Linda was shaken to come face to face with Max once again, with him still unaware that Annie is his daughter. As with all secrets in Soapland, this one exploded, leading Max to demand to be a part of Annie’s life.
Though Linda was initially icy, she soon accepted Max and introduced him properly to Annie, later becoming a tower of strength and confidante for him as he continued to battle with various members of his family for a second chance.
Next week, though, sees her need to conserve her strength for herself, emotions raw and fragile as Mick’s birthday approaches. Heading to the Vic to remember him alongside mum, Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe), it’s an incredibly difficult day for Linda, as she struggles to come to terms with what happened – and how she still has no concrete answers as to whether or not Mick died,
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With Danny Dyer apparently very open to returning to the show, perhaps one day we’ll all get the answer we really want – that Mick is alive and he and Linda can live happily ever after…
…or, maybe not happily. This is EastEnders, after all.
