When Is Kellie Bright Leaving EastEnders? Linda Carter’s Exit Storyline Begins

Kellie Bright is leaving EastEnders after 13 years playing Linda Carter, but when will her final scenes air? Here’s everything we know about the actress’s departure and Linda’s explosive exit storyline.

The end is approaching for one of Walford’s most recognisable residents, with Kellie Bright preparing to bow out of EastEnders after more than a decade as Linda Carter.

Bright has played the much-loved character since 2013, when Linda arrived in Albert Square alongside her husband Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer, as the new owners of The Queen Vic.

Since then, Linda has become central to some of EastEnders‘ biggest and most memorable storylines — from her battle with alcoholism to the sexual assault storyline involving Dean Wicks, the death of Keanu Taylor and the dramatic Christmas Day events surrounding The Six.

But although Bright’s departure was announced earlier this year, the BBC has not yet revealed exactly when Linda Carter’s final scenes will air.

When is Kellie Bright leaving EastEnders?

Kellie Bright is leaving EastEnders after 13 years as Linda Carter.

The BBC has not confirmed the exact date of Linda’s final episode.

However, with Linda’s exit storyline now firmly underway and the show’s current storylines leading towards the dramatic New Year’s Day flash-forward, it is likely that her departure will play out in January, amid the fallout from Max Branning’s flash-forward episode.

That timing has not been officially confirmed by the BBC, so viewers will have to wait for further announcements before knowing precisely when Bright’s final appearance will be broadcast.

What is clear is that Linda’s exit is not going to be a quiet one.

Executive producer Ben Wadey previously promised that there was plenty of drama still to come before viewers say goodbye to the character.

Kellie Bright’s EastEnders exit storyline has already begun

Although Linda’s final episode is still some way off, the story leading towards her departure has already started.

The Carter family is facing chaos, with Nancy Carter’s return and pregnancy storyline adding another major complication to Linda’s life.

Nancy’s pregnancy has begun to unfold this week, creating a new source of tension within the Carter family.

And then there is Max.

Linda’s complicated relationship with Max Branning is becoming increasingly important as the story moves towards the dramatic events teased in the show’s flash-forward.

The pair have a long and complicated history, having previously had an affair which resulted in Linda becoming pregnant with Max’s child, Annie.

Now, their relationship has once again become a major part of the story — and with Linda’s departure looming, viewers are naturally questioning how it will all end.

What happens to Linda and Max?

This is where things become particularly intriguing.

The flash-forward has already given viewers a glimpse of what is to come, but it has raised more questions than answers.

Max is at the centre of the mystery, and Linda’s future appears increasingly connected to his.

Recent episodes have seen their relationship develop again, but there are plenty of obstacles standing in their way.

As Bright herself has acknowledged, Linda and Max have a genuine connection, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are destined for a happy ending.

In an interview with RadioTimes.com, Bright said:

“I think they have a real connection, Max and Linda. And they obviously have a child together.

“But Max Branning’s Max Branning, isn’t he? And I protect my Linda. You know? So who knows? We’ll see.”

That uncertainty is likely to keep EastEnders viewers guessing right up until Linda’s final episodes.

Kellie Bright says it is the right time to leave

Bright announced her decision to leave after 13 years in the role, explaining that she had actually made the decision more than a year before it was made public.

The actress said:

“EastEnders has been my home for thirteen years and I have absolutely loved being part of the show, but I have decided that it is now the right time for me to say goodbye. I made the tough decision over a year ago, and after discussing this with Kate Oates and Ben Wadey, they asked me to stay on to be part of an exciting storyline they had planned, and I happily agreed to extend my stay. I will miss my friends and colleagues hugely, but I am looking forward to my next chapter and spending more time with my wonderful boys.”

That revelation also explains why Bright is remaining on screen despite announcing her departure.

Rather than immediately writing Linda out, EastEnders bosses persuaded the actress to stay longer so that she could be part of a major storyline planned for her character.

And that storyline now appears to be gathering pace.

What has Kellie Bright said about leaving Linda behind?

Bright’s departure marks the end of one of the longest-running current relationships between an actor and character in EastEnders.

Linda has been through an extraordinary amount during her time in Walford.

She has battled alcoholism, experienced domestic and sexual abuse, dealt with the disappearance and presumed death of Mick, become involved in The Six’s cover-up following Keanu’s murder and faced the consequences of her own decisions.

The character was also central to the Christmas Day murder storyline in 2023, when Linda fatally stabbed Keanu Taylor in order to save Sharon Watts.

Bright’s performance throughout those storylines helped establish Linda as one of the soap’s most recognisable characters.

Ben Wadey promises an explosive exit

EastEnders executive producer Ben Wadey has made it clear that the show has big plans for Linda before she leaves.

He said:

“Kellie has been at the beating heart of EastEnders for the past 13 years, and her characterisation of the fiercely lovable, protective, and brilliant Linda Carter has made her a favourite amongst the viewers and cemented her as a classic EastEnders icon.

“Kellie has been involved in some of the show’s most explosive and iconic storylines, and everyone at EastEnders will miss Kellie and Linda dearly. When Kellie told us of her decision last year to leave, we already had big plans for Linda, so we were delighted that Kellie agreed to stay on to see them through. We’ve still got a long way to go before we say goodbye, but I can promise that Kellie’s exit storyline will be full of unmissable drama. I’d like to thank Kellie for her time here at EastEnders, and we wish her all the best for the future.”

The phrase “unmissable drama” will undoubtedly leave fans wondering exactly what awaits Linda.

Will Linda Carter die in EastEnders?

There has been plenty of speculation about how Linda will leave Walford, but the BBC has not confirmed that the character will be killed off.

With the show’s flash-forward mystery, Max’s storyline and Linda’s increasingly complicated family situation all converging, there are numerous possibilities for her exit.

Bright’s comments about her future also suggest that this is a decision about leaving the show rather than simply taking a break.

For now, viewers will have to wait and see whether Linda leaves Walford alive, whether she chooses to start a new life elsewhere, or whether EastEnders has something far more dramatic planned.

Could Linda marry Max?

The flash-forward has inevitably fuelled speculation about Linda’s future with Max.

Their relationship has become increasingly complicated, and viewers know that the New Year’s Day storyline will be crucial to the mystery surrounding Max’s future.

However, there is no confirmation that Linda and Max will marry.

In fact, with Bright’s departure looming, the question of whether Linda could really have a future with Max has become even more intriguing.

Whatever happens, their relationship is likely to remain one of the major threads running through Linda’s final storyline.

When will Linda Carter’s final scenes air?

For now, there is no confirmed BBC broadcast date for Kellie Bright’s final scenes as Linda Carter.

The BBC has confirmed Bright’s departure and has teased a major exit storyline, but has not announced the exact episode in which Linda will leave.

Given the current storyline and the build-up towards the New Year’s Day flash-forward, January is a likely window for Linda’s exit, particularly as the aftermath of the flash-forward mystery begins to unfold.

But fans should treat January as an expectation rather than a confirmed date.

One thing is certain: after 13 years, EastEnders is preparing to say goodbye to one of its most important modern characters.

And judging by the storylines already being put into place, Linda Carter certainly won’t be leaving Albert Square quietly.

Kellie Bright remains in EastEnders as Linda Carter for now, with her final scenes yet to be officially dated by the BBC

Read Next: Nancy and Lee’s pregnancy storyline explained.

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