BBC/Composite: EastEnders Insider Share By Joel Harley Jul 22 2025 By Joel Harley Jul 22 2025 EastEnders follow-up: Will Linda actually return from her cruise exit? Linda said her goodbyes - but for how long? Kellie Bright Linda Carter Share By Joel Harley Jul 22 2025 By Joel Harley Jul 22 2025 Linda bade farewell to The Queen Vic in EastEnders tonight (Tuesday, July 22), taking advantage of Priya’s cruise and heading off on holiday with Johnny, Ollie and Annie. With The Vic sale finalised and a house-swap arranged between the Carters and the Slaters, she packed her things and departed… leaving Kat in charge of The Vic. As she reflected on her past and considered her future, Linda took Lauren up on her advice and told Oscar about sister Annie. For a while, it seemed as though her attempt at honesty had backfired, with Oscar apparently about to tell dad Max about the daughter he never knew he had. That left only one thing to do – hand over the reigns to Kat and say goodbye to her home. Linda said her goodbyes (Credit: BBC) Linda left Walford following Queen Vic sale After leaving Kat behind the bar of The Vic, Linda headed outside where a taxi was waiting to take her off to her cruise adventure. Confirming that Oscar had no plans to tell Max about Annie (disaster averted!), she packed Annie into the car and shared a warm hug with Tracey. Her goodbyes said and done, Linda climbed into the taxi with Johnny and the kids, and drove away from Walford to warmer climes. But will she be back? Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers It’s an end of an era (Credit: BBC) Has Kellie Bright left EastEnders for good? All we know about soap return As she and Johnny confirmed to Elaine, this is only a temporary break for Linda and actress Kellie Bright. The soap hasn’t confirmed the length of her cruise (just as it chose not to share the final selling price of The Vic!) but she and the kids will presumably be back once they’ve topped up their tans and recovered from a busy few months. While there’s still the possibility that Linda will find Mick as an amnesiac, working on her cruise ship (well, one half of that fan theory has played out already), Linda still has much unfinished business in Walford. Namely, the impending return of Max Branning. Oscar may have promised not to tell his dad about Annie, but with Jake Wood set to reprise his role, he’s bound to find out the truth about his love child sooner or later. How will he react when he learns the truth about Annie? And will Linda be able to make things right with Phil when she does return? Read more: Who’s leaving, joining and returning to EastEnders? Complete list of cast exits, arrivals and returns. Share Good to Know Share By Joel Harley Jul 22 2025 By Joel Harley Jul 22 2025
