EastEnders horror as Linda speaks out over dead Keanu in funeral outburst (2024)

Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) struggles to keep her emotions in check in EastEnders next week as the day of Keanu Taylor’s (Danny Walters) funeral approaches.

The Queen Vic landlady, as viewers know, claimed the life of mechanic Keanu on Christmas Day last year in a bid to protect best mate Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) who was having the life choked out of her.

With assistance from five fellow matriarchs – Sharon included – Linda covered up the crime, moving Keanu’s corpse to the ruins of the burnt out cafe, where the body remained for several months until the floor caved in.

Linda panicked and prepared to hand herself in to the police, but the women devised a new plan, believing her to have suffered enough, pinning the crime and planting the murder weapon on Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo), who was subsequently arrested.

With Dean finally in prison, Linda set about getting on with her life, but the trauma of what she went through – not to mention the guilt of taking a life – has led to her seeking solace in the bottom of a bottle.

The torment continues next week, with Father’s Day bringing back memories of her one true love Mick (Danny Dyer), who vanished at sea nearly two years ago, with Johnny (Charlie Suff) and Elaine Peaco*ck (Harriet Thorpe) rallying around her to offer support.

But Linda is soon left reeling when Bernie Taylor (Clair Norris) reveals that Keanu’s funeral is taking place later in the week – and that Elaine has agreed to host the wake in the Vic!

‘Elaine agrees before Linda can say anything,’ said actress Kellie Bright. ‘And of course for Linda, it is her worst nightmare. So she’s worrying about how she’s going to get through the day.

‘I think there is always something in her mind about Christmas – it’s a never ending nightmare. I think she thought that once she had dealt with framing Dean, that was the end of it, but of course it’s always there.

‘Of course there was always going to be a funeral, I just don’t think she’d thought that far ahead, and I certainly don’t think that she thought the wake would be in The Vic where she lives and where she killed him. It’s about as in the face as you can get!’

Struggling to maintain her composure, Linda races upstairs to take a drink, where she’s interrupted by a concerned Johnny.

When confronted, she claims that she’s on her way to tell Sharon but Bernie gets there fist, informing Sharon about the funeral agreements – as the very same moment that Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) asks for more access to Albie.

The revelation knocks Sharon for six, particularly the fact that Linda knew and didn’t tell her but as she speaks to Johnny about the situation, the duo hear a clash in the barrel store, where they find Linda utterly intoxicated.

Fearing the worst, Sharon and Johnny work together and take desperate measures in a bid to sober Linda up.

Sharon later has a heart-to-heart with Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) and, afterwards, she comes to the realisation that she must help Linda, resolving to book her in to an AA meeting.

Linda, however, speaks out – against the wishes of her friend – leaving Sharon pale with fear. The question is: just what exactly will Linda say? And is the truth about the circ*mstances surrounding Keanu’s death set to out at last?

When asked about if Linda will be able to hold on to the big secret for much longer, Kellie said: ‘If Linda falls, all of the other women fall with her. I honestly don’t think that Linda will ever truly find peace for killing Keanu while it remains a secret, but I think the guilt of taking the other women down with her would be too much for her to bear.

‘She’s also very aware that her children have already lost one parent, and she doesn’t want them to lose another. Linda has to try and remain strong but as you’ll see this week, her drinking threatens to jeopardise it all.’

If you’re eager to know the fallout of Linda’s outburst, what I can tell you is that – ahead of the funeral – she prepares for wake, but it’s very clear that she’s not coping.

Sharon, meanwhile, resolves to tell Albie the truth about Keanu’s death and, afterwards, decides to attend the funeral for her son.

Will Sharon be allowed to attend? What’s more, just how will the funeral go? Is it curtains for The Six? Or can they get through the day without their big secret coming to light?

One to watch: Thursday June 13 at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.

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