Viewers of EastEnders were left stunned after the latest episode hinted that Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) might be on the verge of finding a new love interest.
Just last week, Linda was there to support her friend Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) during a dark moment when he was considering ending his life. She, along with Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp), found Phil in The Arches holding a gun. While Grant’s reaction only worsened the situation, Linda calmly tried to reach Phil, who believed the world would be better off without him.
Phil pulled the trigger, but the gun was empty. This gave Grant the chance to grab the weapon before panicking and running out. Realizing Phil needed urgent help, Linda urged Nigel to call for professional assistance while she stayed to talk Phil through his distress. At first, Phil refused any intervention, but after hearing Nigel open up about his early-onset dementia diagnosis, he eventually agreed.
With Phil now in a mental health facility, Grant has been left in Walford, struggling to process everything his brother has been through.
During a conversation at the café in last night’s episode, Grant and Linda shared a moment of understanding. Linda spoke openly about her past struggles with alcoholism, describing how she had hit rock bottom before finding a way to recover. Grant, feeling unwelcome in Walford once Phil returns, told Linda he planned to go back to Portugal.
Grateful for how she helped his brother, Grant held Linda’s hand and called her amazing, before playfully suggesting she visit Portugal so he could properly thank her. Linda smiled but seemed a little caught off guard by the unexpected connection. Since losing Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) at sea in 2022, romance hasn’t been on her mind—until now.
Some fans of the BBC One soap are excited by the possibility of a new pairing.
One viewer on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: “Omg Grant and LINDA?! Yes PLEASE #EastEnders.”
Another added: “Ooh Grant and Linda. That’s interesting! Can pursue this please.”
However, not everyone is on board. A less enthusiastic fan posted: “Oh my goodness, so got the ick over Grant and Linda.”
Before Grant leaves Albert Square, he’ll also spend time with his ex, Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean). New behind-the-scenes pictures suggest some intense interactions between them.
Will Sharon resist temptation, or will she cheat on Teddy (Roland Manookian) with Grant before he departs?
