Linda, Mick and Janine on edge this Christmas (Picture: BBC)

The Christmas Day episode of EastEnders is drawing near, and a new image sets a sinister clifftop backdrop for Mick Carter (Danny Dyer), Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) and killer Janine Butcher (Kellie Bright).

Janine’s menacing face says it all. As the truth about her lies and scheming comes to light, she faces losing her dream of a family future with Mick.

The picture confirms speculation around a final fight on the edge of a cliff which could end in death.

Scenes were filmed not long ago, showing spectacular scenes of a car going over the cliff.

With Janine and Linda both inside for another joint vehicle crisis, Mick fears losing soulmate Linda forever.

Disaster strikes when Janine and Mick come to blows, with him receiving a kick to the softies.

And he then ends up in the sea as he dives to the rescue.

Seen thrashing around in the water, viewers will recall that Mick is a very weak swimmer.

In the depths of freezing cold water, will this be the end of him?

After all, it’s no secret that the episode will be the last that acclaimed actor Danny appears in.

Given it’s unlikely that he would leave Walford without Linda by choice, viewers fear he is going to die.

Janine will make a getaway from the scene, flagging down a car – but has she killed again, and will she escape as Charlie also bows out in the explosive climax.

Janine’s secrets spill out (Picture: BBC)

Earlier in the day, Shirley (Linda Carter) confronts Janine over a very awkward dinner table, and the return of Jada Lennox (Kelsey Calladine-Smith) will likely expose Janine’s plot to try and have Linda separated from her kids.

‘Janine wants to get Linda away from Jada as quickly as possible – to the point where she invites her in for Christmas lunch!’ Charlie told us.

‘She doesn’t want them to have a conversation, so I think it’s shock and fear guiding Janine.

‘I think Janine’s hoping her powers of persuasion and the threat of Jada’s own kid being taken away are enough to sway her from jeopardising everything.

‘Janine’s trying her best to make it a really lovely family Christmas, and it’s not going well.

The end is nigh for Mick (Picture: BBC)

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‘She puts Linda as far away from Mick as she possibly can. But when two people are in love, and they have that history, you can always feel it, so that’s the tension in the room.’

As everything crumbles around Mick, he realises Janine’s true nature.

The stage is set for one heck of a final showdown. With a stunt and a double exit, is the grim reaper paying their almost annual visit to Walford?

EastEnders airs its Christmas Day special at 9:25pm on BBC One.

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