Kellie Bright has quit EastEnders after 13 years on the BBC soap. The actress, who played Linda Carter, said she made the 'tough decision' to leave over a year ago and teased an 'exciting' exit storyline.
Announcement and Reaction
Posting on Instagram, EastEnders bosses wrote: 'After 13 years, Kellie Bright is saying goodbye to EastEnders and her iconic role of Linda Carter.'
Kellie, 50, first joined the show in 2013 as the new landlady of The Queen Vic when her husband Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) took over from the Mitchell family. She has been at the heart of some of the show's most explosive and iconic storylines, including Linda's journey with alcoholism, her role in The Six flashforward which saw her character responsible for Keanu's Christmas Day murder, and her famed relationship with Mick.
Exit Storyline Teased
EastEnders bosses teased that her exit would be dramatic, saying: 'Kellie and Linda's exit is still a while away on screen, but with a rich history like Linda Carter's, it would be impossible for her to leave quietly...'
Kellie 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.'
Executive Producer's Tribute
Executive producer Ben Wadey added: '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.'
He continued: '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.'
Future Possibilities
Linda is set to appear until at least 1 January 2027, as she already appeared in a flashforward to that date earlier this year. The Sun quoted a source who said Kellie felt it was time to look at opportunities elsewhere, and that the 'door is being left open' for Linda to return one day. As such, it is unlikely she will be killed off, unlike Michelle Ryan's Zoe Slater, who is thought to be set to die in an upcoming storyline.
