LINDA Carter is lured to a lake to meet who she believes is missing Mick Carter in horrific EastEnders scenes.
The soap will air distressing scenes over the festive period for the character, who is played by Kellie Bright.
Die-hard fans of the BBC One soap will know Mick Carter vanished last Christmas as he tried to save Linda and Janine Butcher after the car entered the sea.
The pub landlord, who was played by Danny Dyer, never returned and was presumed dead.
As Linda approaches her first Christmas without Mick, she receives word to meet him at a lake.
Taking herself off to meet him, she is left horrified when she learns she’s actually seeing Dean Wicks.
EastEnders bosses are remaining tight-lipped about the six trap, meaning viewers will have to tune in to find out what happens next.
Dean, who is played by Matt Di Angelo, recently returned after a seven-year break.
The villain raped Linda in 2015 but was acquitted of the charges in court.
Viewers watched recently as Dean blackmailed Linda into claiming he didn’t rape her – and secretly recording her words.
Later in the Vic, struggling with her first Christmas without Mick, Linda thanked her family for being there for her.
She told the punters in the Vic: “It’s hard celebrating Christmas without Mick.
“You know, doing this on my own, except I’m not on my own because my mum and my new family, George, Gina, Anna. You make me feel like I can get through this so thank you.”
But then Linda was horrified when Dean appeared behind her at the bar in front of all the punters.
“Such a good liar,” he said.
“You don’t get to play the grieving widow, let’s have it right. You’re a drunk who cheated on my brother Mick again and again.
“Once with Max Branning and with me.”
Dean then played the secret recording he’d made of Linda after he blackmailed her into lying about what happened and claiming Dean didn’t rape her.
EastEnders continues on BBC One and iPlayer.
