KELLIE BRIGHT TO LEAVE EASTENDERS AFTER 13 YEARS

Kellie Bright has announced her departure from EastEnders after portraying Linda Carter for 13 years. Bright made the decision to leave more than a year ago but agreed to extend her stay to participate in planned storylines. She said: "It is now the right time for me to say goodbye." Executive producer Ben Wadey described her as "the beating heart of EastEnders" and promised her exit storyline would be "full of unmissable drama".

Bright joined the BBC soap in December 2013 when her character arrived in Albert Square as one of the new owners of the Queen Vic pub alongside her on-screen husband Mick Carter, portrayed by Danny Dyer. The character has been central to major narratives, including sexual assault, murder, alcoholism and infidelity. Linda Carter was at the centre of the 2023 Christmas Day episode in which she stabbed Keanu Taylor to death to save her friend Sharon Watts. More recently, the character opened a bed and breakfast with her mother Elaine Peacock and became involved in a romance with newcomer Clive Masters.

Bright said she was looking forward to her next chapter and spending more time with her family. The BBC stated that Bright's exit is "a while away yet", meaning her departure will not occur immediately. Bright has previously appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 and in films including Ali G Indahouse and Kinky Boots.