EASTENDERS spoilers reveal Linda Carter will take the big step of entering rehab.
The character – played by Kellie Bright – has faced a lot of trauma over the past few years.
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She lost her longtime love Mick (Danny Dyer) at sea and killed Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) last Christmas to protect her friend Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).
In scenes yet to air, Linda has a meeting with her keyworker to discuss going into rehab.
Her mother Elaine (Harriet Thorpe) has offered to pay for the treatment.
It comes as Linda recently found herself in a life threatening situation while her drinking got out of control.
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Paramedics came to the Queen Vic and rushed the long-standing character to hospital.
It came after Linda had spent the night drinking and son Johnny (Charlie Suff) was at a loss on how to help her.
Gina Knight (Francesca Henry) offered to step in and look after her, but they soon had an unexpected visit from Bernie Taylor (Clair Norris), wanting answers about her brother Keanu’s death.
Viewers are aware Bernie had been working with Dean Wicks to expose Linda’s lies about Keanu Taylor’s death.
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But after Dean got what he wanted, he abandoned Bernie to her own devices.
After overhearing Sharon and Johnny clashing about Linda’s drinking and being pulled off the witness list, Bernie put a cunning plan into action.
After Johnny Linda under Gina’s watchful eye, he went to see the prosecution lawyer in an attempt to get her to reconsider dropping Linda.
While he was gone, Bernie pretended to be distraught at Dean potentially walking free and insisted she needed a drink.
Revealing a full bottle of vodka, she poured Linda drink after drink and tried to get her to tell her what happened with Keanu at Christmas.
When Johnny returned, he was horrified to see that Linda was drinking again.
The pair had a massive argument and Johnny stormed off.
Darkest soap storylines
Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock…
- EastEnders: Tony grooming Whitney (2008-2009) – Tony King first appeared in Albert Square in 2008 as the boyfriend of Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. But it was quickly revealed he was a paedophile who had been grooming vulnerable Whitney, Bianca’s adopted stepdaughter from a previous relationship, since she was 12. The shocking storyline attracted more than 200 complaints within a week of it beginning. Whitney waited until her 16th birthday to reveal the truth to a horrified Bianca, who called the police.
- Emmerdale: Holly’s drug addiction and shock death (2010-2016) – In 2010, Holly Barton (played by Sophie Powles) became Emmerdale’s first teenage drug addict. The shocking storyline saw her taking cocaine on a night out before developing a deadly heroin habit. Parents John and Moira desperately tried to help get their daughter clean but when Holly returned in 2016, following a four-year absence, she quickly relapsed. Fans were left stunned and heartbroken when distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed from a heroin overdose.
- Hollyoaks: Luke’s rape (2000) – Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke Morgan become soap’s first male rape victim. Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs – who raped him after Luke stood up to him. Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Gibbs was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance.
- Coronation Street: Evil Richard Hillman (2001-2003) – Just a mere mention of ‘Richard Hillman’ is enough to send a shiver down the spines of soap fans. He is often ranked one of the most evil soap villains and it’s not hard to see why. The smooth-talking financial adviser bashed his ex-wife Patricia over the head with a shovel. In a bid to keep his mother-in-law Audrey quiet, he set fire to her house. And when Maxine caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop, he took a crowbar to her head. He made his exit from the cobbles in 2003 when he drove Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, and her family into the canal. They survived, but he didn’t.
But when the lawyer went to apologise to his mum, he found her choking on her own vomit.
Hearing Johnny shouting, Gina rushed in and put Linda into the recovery position and told Johnny to call an ambulance.
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How will Linda move forward?
EastEnders airs on BBC One and airs on iPlayer.
