Linda Carter’s departure will be preceded by a major storylineKellie Bright is to leave EastEnders after 13 years playing Linda Carter. Bright joined the BBC soap in 2013 as the matriarch of the Carter family and landlady of The Queen Vic, becoming central to some of the show’s biggest storylines. Wadey said Bright had been “at the beating heart of EastEnders” and praised her portrayal of Linda as a “fiercely lovable, protective, and brilliant” character. He confirmed that the production team already had major plans for Linda when Bright announced her decision to leave, allowing her to stay on and complete the storyline. Bright’s departure is still some way off on screen, with Wadey promising that Linda’s exit will be “full of unmissable drama”.