EastEnders has announced that Linda Carter's eldest children, Lee and Nancy, will return to Walford ahead of actress Kellie Bright's exit from the BBC soap after 13 years. Danny Hatchard and Maddy Hill will reprise their roles as Lee and Nancy Carter, reuniting with their mother Linda, brothers Johnny (Charlie Suff) and Ollie (Harry Farr), half-sister Annie (Lois Hawkins), and maternal grandmother Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe).
Reunion may not be smooth
EastEnders has teased that the reunion will not be as seamless as Linda might hope. The show said: "The family has weathered plenty in their absence, so their upcoming reunion may not be entirely smooth." They did not reveal the reason for Lee and Nancy's return but shared that "Carter family get togethers are rarely without complications".
Speaking about her return, Maddy said: "I am SO excited to be returning to Enders for a short stint and stepping back into Nancy's shoes (or basketball shorts!). I've missed her! I'm especially looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces and acting alongside my incredible on-screen family."
Characters' exits and returns
Maddy was last on the show in June 2022. Her character Nancy left after her boyfriend Zack Hudson (James Farrar) cheated on her with Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) and amid her mother's battle with alcoholism. Danny said: "I'm absolutely over the moon to be returning to EastEnders as Lee Carter. Albert Square has always felt like a home away from home, so I'm proper buzzing to be back grafting with the Enders family."
Danny last appeared as Lee on 16 December 2024, but stopped playing the character full time in 2020. Lee also left amid Linda's alcoholism and his exit came as his parents' marriage broke down.
Changes since their departure
Since they both left the show, Mick Carter and Linda got divorced, he re-married Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), who is also set to return, and disappeared at sea following a car accident. Linda got sober and had a daughter with Max Branning (Jake Wood). She started to struggle with running the Queen Vic, which the Carters had owned since they arrived in 2013, and sold it to the Slaters.
Now, actress Kellie has decided to leave the show and producers have promised that it will be a dramatic exit. Fans have theorised that Mick might come back for her exit, but as of yet, only Lee and Nancy's returns have been confirmed. Executive Producer Ben Wadey added: "We are absolutely thrilled to have Maddy and Danny back in Walford, bringing two much-loved pieces of the Carter family back together. And whilst Linda is delighted to have her children all together again, she's got a lot to catch up on…"
