Kellie joined the BBC soap alongside Danny Dyer, who played Linda’s husband Mick.

The pair were revealed to fans as the brand new owners of the Queen Vic pub, having bought it from Phil Mitchell.

Over the years that followed, the character quickly became a matriarch of Albert Square from behind the bar.

Kellie Bright established herself as a fan-favourite over some of her high-profile storylines, including being raped by her brother-in-law, Dean Wicks.

Fans watched as she was left traumatised by the ordeal, while Dean maintained it was consensual sex.

But the character has reached her peak in the last two years, having been caught up in her husband Mick’s apparent death in 2022 and last year’s highly-anticipated Six storyline, as she plunged a carving knife into Keanu Taylor’s back.

Over the 10 months since Linda’s impulsive kill it has been difficult viewing. The constant yo-yoing has been a let down to the character as Linda relapses back into alcoholism.

While of course it’s an extremely important storyline, this is soapland and stories need to move forward.

Linda being removed from the Square could pave the way for further character development.

And with rapist Dean finally admitting his crime to a devastated Linda and a packed court room last month, things appear to be coming to a natural end for Linda.

Phil Mitchell previously battled an alcohol addiction and ultimately needed a new liver, with the life-changing op paving the way for him to be rehabilitated and for his character to go down new avenues.

For Linda, she appears to be chained to the same story, no matter what her environment is.

Kellie Bright is a phenomenal actress and has proven she can tackle a wide-range of scripts and deliver powerful monologues, and while she would be greatly missed from EastEnders if she is leaving, her character has ran its course – for now.

The Sun’s exclusive pictures last week left fans fearful bosses had decided to bring the axe down on the character and kill her off.

Kellie Bright is a phonemenal actress and has proven she can tackle a wide-range of scripts and deliver powerful monologue

Alex DoyleSun TV Reporter

Snaps showed the Carter clan gathered for a funeral, with Danny Hatchard and Maddy Hill reprising their roles for the send-off.

All the clues hint to it being Linda’s funeral, with Kellie nowhere to be seen alongside her co-stars.

While Linda stans will hope it’s another red herring from EastEnders bosses, if this really is the end of Linda Carter, I think the character’s mark in Walford has truly been felt – and it’s the right time to go.