EASTENDERS fans have become concerned that Shirley Carter is gone for good after realising she hasn’t made an appearance on the soap in two years.
The character left Albert Square in December 2022 after the death of her son.
Shirley was left distraught when Mick drowned while trying to save Linda from an accident at sea.
She handed over her keys for the Vic to Denise and left to stay with her daughter Carly.
But when eagle-eyed viewers noticed that she didn’t pack any bags to take with her, they became hopeful that she would make a comeback at some point.
At the time EastEnders executive producer Chris Clenshaw made it clear that soap bosses were planning for Shirley to return once the actress who played her had a break.
He told fans: “Linda Henry is currently on a break from the show. Shirley walked out of Walford last year with Lady Di in the wake of Mick’s disappearance, but it won’t be the last you see of her.”
Viewers became hopeful that she would head back to Walford to help the Six when Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) murdered Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) while trying to prevent him from choking Sharon to death.
But there has still been no sign of Shirley.
EastEnders fans are now speculating that she might never come back to the soap.
Taking to a digital forum, one person firmly stated: “She was absent ALL of last year and it is now late August 2024. She’s been gone since 2022. People need to move on and accept she’s gone.”
Another agreed: “She’s been gone for coming up to 2 years nearly, she’s clearly left.”
However, one fan protested: “Shirley hasn’t left… hopefully.”
A second mused: “Oh I believe she has left but it wouldn’t surprise me if she appeared just once more and then announce that she’s left for good.
“It would be good to know what happened to her after she left because Dean’s hint that she had a mental breakdown doesn’t ring true.
“Also, Jean and Denise would have still been in touch with her but nobody has mentioned Shirley apart from Jean saying she was helping out with Jade for her friend Shirley. It’s all a bit weird.”
