LINDA Carter sunk to an all-time low in tonight’s EastEnders – as her alcoholism spirals out of control.
Kellie Bright has played the Queen Vic landlady since December 2013.
After a row with son Johnny (Charlie Suff), Linda went to stay with best friend Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) – after a row with son Johnny (Charlie Suff).
However, disaster soon struck – with Sharon left absolutely furious by her pal’s actions.
The next morning, after discovering Linda trying to hide booze, Sharon issued some hard truths.
Not holding back, she said: “In less than 24 hours, you let burglars through that front door and steal [Albie’s] Christmas.
“And he is soaked in your wee.”
Continuing, Sharon added: “You need to apologise to Johnny and to Alfie.
“You walked out on your kids and stole booze from Alfie.”
Later, Linda went to say sorry to Alfie – but things took a nasty turn as she insulted him instead.
She humiliated herself further while Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) dressed up as Father Christmas to deliver gifts.
Having knocked back more drinks, Linda stopped the sleigh and climbed on board.
Speaking loudly to the crowd, she said: “Who wants to see mummy kiss Santa Claus?”
As Ian told Linda she was ruining the kids’ experience, she pushed him off the sleigh and threw presents out to the crowd.
Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) got Linda down and inside the Queen Vic.
The three agreed to attend a support group together that evening, much to Johnny’s delight.
He was soon furious, however, as Linda started eyeing up another bottle.
Thrown out of the Vic, she took more booze with her and continued to drink.
Linda arrived on the Square on Boxing Day in 2013, along with her husband Mick (Danny Dyer) and has been a hit with soap fans ever since.
Her first storylines revolved around the fact that she struggled to come to terms that her son Johnny is gay
In a storyline that had long-lasting repercussions, she was then raped by Mick’s brother Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo).
She fell pregnant shortly after and then was left devastated emotionally when she gave birth to a premature baby after falling down the stairs.
Things soon got worse for Linda after she discovered that her husband Mick kissed their daughter-in-law Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), who was married to their veteran son Lee (Danny Hatchard).
One of her more memorable storylines was when she was accused of perverting the course of justice. This was after Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ) is shot and she was falsely accused of attempted murder.
Over the years she has suffered from a variety of illnesses and disorders which include bulimia, alcoholism, and a secret battle with cervical cancer. After she gave birth to her youngest son Ollie (Harry Farr), she also had to deal with his autism diagnosis.
Although she and Mick seemed to be the perfect couple, the pair split up for a short time after she had an affair with Max Branning (Jake Wood). This lead to another pregnancy.
However, the pair finally got divorced after Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) set her eyes on Mick. She wanted the landlord all to herself and she lured Linda rival back into alcoholism to drive a wedge between them.
After this led to Mick’s apparent death at sea, she struggled to adjust to life without her ex-husband and the true love of her life. This was just after the pair decided to have another go at their relationship.
Recently, Linda was the person who was at the very centre during ‘The Six’ storyline. She tried to save her best friend Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) when she was being strangled by Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters). When she killed him with a meat thermometer, the group framed her rapist Dead Wicks after he returned to the square. Since then, she has struggled to cope.
Linda tried returning to Sharon’s – but was turned away by Zack Hudson (James Farrar).
Alone and without anyone around her, a drunken Linda passed out on a bench.
With Kellie Bright teasing a “dark” direction for Linda’s story – will the character overcome her demons?
EastEnders airs on BBC One and iPlayer.
