Is EastEnders’ Linda Carter actress Kellie Bright leaving BBC soap? 2024 theories after murder

EastEnders fans have been on the edge of their seats this festive season thanks to the explosive Christmas Day episode that saw one Walford resident become a murderer.

The double length episode of the popular BBC One soap that aired on Christmas Day showed Linda Carter, played by Kellie Bright, 47, fatally stab Keanu Taylor, played by 30-year-old Danny Walters, while trying to stop him strangling Sharon Watts, played by Letitia Dean, 56. But the shock scenes dragged in other Albert Square residents Denise Fox, played by Diane Parish, 54, Kathy Beale, played by Gillian Taylforth, 68, Stacey Slater, played by Lacey Turner, 35, Suki Panesar, played by Balvinder Sopal, 45, and Nish Panesar, played by Navin Chowdhry, 52.

Keanu was stabbed by Linda with a carving fork after Denise had earlier bludgeoned Nish with a champagne bottle – but Suki was able to successfully revive Nish after Sharon had declared him dead. But following the death of Keanu, the ladies started arguing between themselves over who had killed the lad, and who was an accessory to his death.

Stacey and Kathy both urged the others to call the authorities – with Stacey preparing to throw Linda under the bus, blaming her for Keanu’s death, and Kathy urgently wanted to summon an ambulance to help Nish. But Denise argued that all six women were part of Keanu’s death and that they would all be charged with ‘joint enterprise’ due to the fact the women had encouraged the acts of violence not he night – and said she was willing to testify to that effect if the others didn’t help her cover up the death.

However, fans are curious to know if Linda could take the fall for the death of Keanu – and that Kellie will be written out of the show as a result. The character had already suggested she would confess to the murder in scenes that aired on Boxing Day – but she was talked out of handing herself in by Sharon.

Fans are demanding Kellie be honoured with awards for he work in the tense episodes, with one fan on X/Twitter stating: “kellie bright deserves all the awards, what a woman, what an actress.”

In behind-the-scenes footage, Kellie was shown being told by EastEnders Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw that she was the killer before the scenes were filmed. She gasped: “Are you joking? Oh no. Oh no! Oh no! I don’t mind being the murderer. Oh Jesus. Why have you done this to me? The first thing going through my head is that now I’ve got to not tell anyone, have I? Why have you done this to me! I didn’t see that coming.”

Some viewers saw the clip as proof that Linda will eventually be jailed for the crime and Kellie will be out of work. One fan commented on X/Twitter: “Her career flashing before her eyes at the prospect of Linda going to jail… save ar Kells omg #Eastenders.” While others felt Kellie could do with a break from the soap as he character has had to deal with so much drama over the years, with one writing: “Honestly just put Linda in jail by this point she needs a break, bless her.”

But Kellie herself has hinted she’s not sure if this means her character will be jailed and she will be forced out of her job. During another behind-the-scenes moment, the actress exclaimed: “What’s gonna become of me? Murderers go to prison!” But co-star Leticia said: “Panto Kelly! Panto!”

Last year, Kellie said she wasn’t finished with EastEnders when her on-screen husband Mick, played by Danny Dyer, was seemingly killed off when he went missing at sea. She said: “I don’t think I’m done yet… I’ve always said while I’m happy and I’m enjoying the work – the work matters to me, I’m not someone who just turns up – I’m not that sort of person.

“I’ve honestly had such a good time with it and I’m hoping that will continue and as long as it does I’m really happy to stay there. I really care about the show and when it’s good it’s really good. It’s totally getting its rhythm back and I have complete faith in Chris Clenshaw.”