EastEnders exit story in early release as legend decides it's time to move on
This article contains spoilers for tonight's episode of EastEnders, which airs at 7.30pm on BBC One or can be streamed now on iPlayer.
It's the end of an era as one Albert Square legend has decided to call last orders on their time at The Queen Vic.
We are, of course, referring to the iconic Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), who has chose to move on in the wake of her mum Elaine Knight's (Harriet Thorpe) selfish and irresponsible behaviour.
As viewers have seen over the last week, in the wake of Elaine's separation from husband George (Colin Salmon), she's left the lion's share of the work to her daughter while she splashed the cash, partied and gave monetary handouts to their neighbours.
It seemed like she was determined to drive the business into the ground.
For Linda, the last straw was when Elaine served teenagers Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega) and Joel Marshall (Max Murray) with a glass of punch each.
She was too busy focusing on George – who had told her he intended to fight for her part of the famed boozer – and didn't notice them wandering off with two jugs full.
Disaster struck when young children Bert and Ernie Moon and Raymond Dawkins got their hands on the alcohol and were hospitalised.
In today's instalment, Linda scorned her mum's careless behaviour and told her once again that their license was now at risk.
She then went to apologise to Raymond's dad Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) for what had happened to him. He urged her to consider her future, and whether she was truly able to manage.
Returning home, she sat down with son Johnny (Charlie Suff) for a similar conversation.
He wondered what she would do without running the pub, and she said that a couple of years before she and late husband Mick (Danny Dyer) moved to Walford, they'd visited a run-down establishment in Kent and realised that it wasn't something they could envisage running themselves.
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Perhaps the story would've ended up happier if they had never tried.
Although the pair had built some great memories together in The Vic, there was also a lot of sadness.
She reflected on being raped by brother-in-law Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo), and Keanu Taylor's (Danny Walters) murder two Christmases ago. More Trending
'What if it don't feel like home anymore?' she pondered.
Later, the two went to break the news to Elaine. Linda was selling up.
But how will Elaine take the news?
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Find out in EastEnders tonight, or stream the episode now.
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MORE: All EastEnders spoilers for next week as Alfie twist is confirmed
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