Linda is back at the centre of EastEnders where she belongs, with a number of huge few months ahead for the character (Picture: BBC)

Linda Carter’s (Kellie Bright) world has been completely turned upside down in EastEnders following the shocking return of Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo), who raped her nine years ago.

The landlady of the Queen Vic was in the process of rebuilding her life, having experienced the worst year imaginable following the tragic loss of soulmate Mick (Danny Dyer).

Mick, as viewers will recall, was swept out to sea while trying to rescue his beloved L from the clutches of the icy waters, unaware that she’d already made it to dry land.

Linda has struggled to come to terms with what happened and has spent much of this year trying to claw back some semblance of normality, which is why she was so determined to make Halloween a successful night at the Vic.

‘Halloween means so much to Linda because it was her thing with Mick, and they always made a big deal out of it,’ actress Kellie Bright told Metro.co.uk. ‘They had kids when they were still kids themselves, and they always dressed up as a family for the pub Halloween events.

‘To them, Halloween was as big as Christmas. Everything this year is the first one without Mick, so every holiday is marked with a tinge of sadness, including Halloween.’

Linda’s Halloween celebrations ended in disaster (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)

It wasn’t the ghouls, the goblins or even Mick’s vanishing that made Halloween a travesty, however, but rather it was the return of Dean, who entered the Vic and made his way upstairs, cornering Linda in the very spot where he raped her almost a decade ago.

‘Linda’s in deep, deep shock,’ admitted Kellie, discussing the scenes in question. ‘He is the last person that she expected to see walking through the door of her kitchen.

‘He’s in her home and in the exact room where he raped her. She obviously goes into complete shock, and her body is filled with adrenalin. She is absolutely terrified, above and beyond anything else. It doesn’t matter what Dean’s saying, as Linda is in fight or flight mode from the moment he appears.’

Dean’s return has knocked Linda for six (Picture: BBC)

Dean, in typical Dean fashion, refused to accept responsibility for his actions, instead blaming Linda for destroying his life, claiming that what happened was consensual. The bigger shocks came later when he revealed that he’s partnered with Cindy and Ian Beale (Michelle Collins and Adam Woodyatt).

‘Linda knows Ian Beale of old and that he would betray his own mother for a deal,’ Kellie said. ‘She is horrified, but I don’t think Linda is thinking, “How could they?” She’s up in arms about it and goes the next day to say, “What the hell do you think you are doing? Why on earth would you go into business with this man?”

Kellie admits that this discovery is the ‘final nail in the coffin’ in regards to any sort of relationship between the Beales and the Knights, telling us that the alliance has done Cindy and Ian ‘no favours’ in that department.

Linda will seek support from her loved ones (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)

Kellie is a fan of the Linda and George dynamic (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)

It wasn’t just Dean’s association with Cindy, however, that floored Linda, as he soon delivered a second shock, revealing that Shirley not only suffered mental health issues and was hospitalised in the wake of Mick’s vanishing, but that she no longer believes Dean is a rapist.

‘It’s all those mind games again,’ said Kellie of the developments. ‘Immediately, Linda feels guilt about Shirley and that she’s not kept in touch.

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‘Linda also feels guilt towards Mick because she knows that’s not what he would want for Shirley.

‘I think she’s genuinely upset by what Dean says about Shirley – even though part of her, maybe the bigger part, thinks he’s making it up just to get to her. There is a little part of her that’s like, “Oh no, what if Shirley has been really ill and I haven’t been there?”

‘That’s what Dean does, he gets under her skin.

Linda has really struggled without Mick by her side (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)

The situation is all the harder for Linda as Mick isn’t there to protect her this time around. ‘She feels far more vulnerable,’ revealed Kellie. ‘She hates the fact that she feels so vulnerable around Dean, but it’s understandable. He scares her in a way no one else ever can or would. And because Mick isn’t there, it is ten times worse for her.’

Discussing what’s ahead, Kellie promised that Linda will look to the Knights for support, confirming that she will grow ‘closer and closer’ to George (Colin Salmon), Anna (Molly Rainford) and Gina (Francesca Henry).

‘I do like [Linda and George’s relationship],’ she said. ‘I also like the friction to play. As an actor, it’s nice having the drama. But it is nice that Linda and George are bonding. Long may it last, is all I say!’

Dean aside, Linda’s life isn’t going to get any easier in the coming months, with the character set to be involved in a huge murder storyline, which was teased several months ago during a historic flash-forward sequence.

The scene in question saw Linda and a number of her fellow Walford women standing over a deceased male corpse, whose identity has thus far been withheld.

‘I am excited [about The Six storyline]’ enthused Kellie. ‘For me, when I have a big storyline, I still get a nervous tummy and butterflies. I really want it to be great, and I know I have to deliver.

‘I am excited to be working with the other five women and doing some really good, juicy stuff with them. I love the fact that we’ve had this secret building on the show for the whole year, and it’s really clever.

Linda will play a pivotal role in the Christmas murder story (Picture: BBC)

‘I love the fact that I am part of something that hasn’t been done before, so I’m really embracing that. I feel like I’m at the foot of the mountain, about to set off for the climb, and although I know it’ll be magnificent at the top, it’s still a climb to get there!’

The renaissance era of Linda Carter is about to commence, and we couldn’t be more excited about it as the landlady of the Square’s iconic boozer takes back her rightful place at the centre of the community and of the show!

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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A turbulent number of months lie ahead for Linda, as Kellie reveals all.