Max Branning (Jake Wood) has committed his most dastardly act to date in EastEnders, lying to Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) that the body of her one true love Mick (Danny Dyer) has been recovered. Linda was left bereft earlier this week when she received a call notifying her that the remains of Mick, who vanished at sea four years ago while trying to rescue her, had been found.
Without wasting a second, she tracked down love rival Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), who claimed that Mick did not drown four years prior but had actually survived – and chose to stay away from her and the kids. The claims left Linda heartbroken. Janine, meanwhile, stated that Mick had died just weeks ago and she identified the body herself.
Max's Cruel Deception
Determined to know for sure if Janine was lying, Linda wanted to take a look inside the coffin but she soon reconsidered, worried that – if the body was Mick – then the last image she'd have of her soulmate would be an upsetting one. Max agreed to look at the body on her behalf but when Janine confessed that she'd made the whole thing up in a bid to get her hands on the payout if Mick is declared legally dead, the lothario thought long and hard about the possibility of lying to Linda and saying the body is Mick so that she could move on.
Linda, as viewers know, regards Mick as the great love story of her life. Max being Max knows he cannot compete with this and, jealous of what they had, he resolved to 'make her forget' Mick ever existed. Armed with Janine's suggestion, he told Linda that the body was Mick, which resulted in her sobbing her heart out.
What Happens Next
New spoilers for Wednesday, November 11 reveal that after taking some time to process what Max has told her, Linda decides it's time to share the devastating news with Lee (Danny Hatchard), Nancy (Maddy Hill) and Johnny (Charlie Suff) that Mick's body has been found. The news sends shockwaves through the Carter clan, with the trio subsequently heading out. Linda is worried sick and, with some assistance from twisted Max, she goes in search of them.
Linda locates Nancy first, who is reflecting on the past. The mother and daughter duo share a heart-to-heart. Zack Hudson (James Farrar) later finds Nancy – and her waters break. Linda, meanwhile, finds Lee at Harry's Barn – where he's very much intoxicated.
Fallout Across the Square
Max has antagonised pretty much everyone in the Square over the past year and, with him being the subject of a big episode on New Year's Day, it's safe to assume that comeuppance of some sorts will come calling. Elsewhere, Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) prepares to clean out Zoe's (Michelle Ryan) room and Peter Beale (Thomas Law) resolves to take Louie and Jimmy away for a long weekend – so Lauren (Jaqueline Jossa) sets her sights on getting the house to herself so that she and Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) can have some alone time.
Also tomorrow, Eve Panesar-Unwin (Heather Peace) convinces Ash Panesar (Sakira Vel) to attend the meeting with Ria's birth mum Harleen. Things go to plan at first – that is until Harleen spots an awkward interaction between Suki and Ash in the kitchen. EastEnders airs these scenes Wednesday November 11 at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
