EastEnders has confirmed Mick Carter is not officially dead as Janine Butcher's latest scheme begins to fall apart, leaving fans convinced he will make a dramatic return. On Christmas Day 2022, the BBC One soap aired Mick's (Danny Dyer) exit when the pub landlord was lost at sea following a car chase involving his then-pregnant wife Janine Carter (Charlie Brooks) and ex-wife Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).
Mick's Death Called Into Question
Mick was later presumed dead after his belongings washed up, but his son Lee Carter (Danny Hatchard) recently revealed that he had Mick's declaration of death revoked. However, in Monday's episode (November 9), Linda picked up drunken Lee's phone and answered a call suggesting Mick's dead body has finally been found.
The former Queen Victoria landlady was also infuriated, as Janine (Charlie Brooks), Mick's next of kin, is handling arrangements related to his death, prompting Linda to attempt to track down her former love rival. During Tuesday's (November 11) episode, Janine pretended not to care about her ex-husband, but when Linda threatened to get lawyers involved, she said that Mick had already been cremated and that she had scattered his ashes in Dover.
Janine's Lie Unravels
When Janine claimed she identified Mick's body, Linda suspected she was lying, as he would have been unidentifiable given he had been dead for four years. Janine responded by explaining that Mick didn't drown four years ago but instead died of a heart attack only two weeks ago, and presented a fake death certificate as proof.
Linda returned to the Square and enlisted Max Branning (Jake Wood) to help her search crematoriums in the area to find the undertaker who issued the death certificate. The couple spotted Janine outside a nearby crematorium and soon gathered that Mick was in fact supposed to be cremated that day.
Linda and Max didn't believe Janine and decided to open the coffin to check whether Mick was inside. Feeling scared about the prospect of seeing her true love Mick dead, Linda ultimately felt unable to open the casket, so she headed out to the car and asked Max to identify the body.
Max's Dangerous Lie
With Max about to expose the truth, Janine admitted to him that it wasn't Mick in the coffin and confirmed she faked his death after Lee revoked the death certificate, as she was told to hand back the money left in his life insurance. Janine manipulated Max into keeping the truth from Linda, suggesting that Linda will never be able to fully commit to him if she thinks there's any chance that Mick is still alive.
Max then headed to the car and informed Linda that he saw Mick in the coffin, as she broke down in tears. As fans of the BBC soap witnessed in a thrilling flash-forward episode, Max is set for a dramatic New Year's Day when a mystery gunman kidnaps his children, Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier), and threatens them with death.
Fans Predict Christmas Return
EastEnders fans are now suggesting that Mick will make a dramatic return on Christmas Day, the fourth anniversary of his disappearance, and that he will be the gunman. His reappearance would also confirm to Linda that he is alive and prove Max to be a dangerous liar.
Taking to X, one fan wrote: "It's obvious they are setting up the scene for Mick turning up at Christmas and Linda leaving with him to get their happily ever after #EastEnders." A second stated: "Mick will return on Xmas Day or maybe the Xmas Eve Duff Duff like Chrissie did last year. Linda will be horrified to discover that Max lied to her & covered up Janine's lies about Mick's death. Linda will go ahead with the Wedding but will plot revenge with Kat & Cindy."
A third chimed in: "Max you absolute **** how could you tell a lie like that?!!!! #eastenders I hope Mick is brought back either Christmas Day or New Year's Day; it's time." "Mick had to be the gunman on NYD, surely?? #EastEnders", added another, while one viewer predicted: "Mick returns at Christmas and he and Linda run off whilst Max is being arrested on NYD. #EastEnders."
