Elaine’s appearance left Linda and Sharon in shock (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

A new era has begun for the Queen Vic in EastEnders as new landlady Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) made a spectacular return to Albert Square.

Having received Mick Carter’s presumption of death certificate, Linda (Kellie Bright) knew that she didn’t have long to secure a buyer for the Queen Vic.

Luckily for her, the potential buyer she had had on hold for several weeks was finally able to pull through.

Unfortunately, that meant having some difficult conversations with the Panesars and best friend Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).

As Suki and Nish Panesar (Balvinder Sopal and Navin Chowdhry) arrived with a business associate in tow, Linda was forced to reveal that she would be no longer going through with the sale.

Of course, Linda had never planned on accepting their offer in the first place, but had needed to keep them sweet on the off chance that her plan A didn’t work out.

While Suki seemed upset, Nish brushed it off a being just business, but later delighted in sticking the knife in to Sharon, who had also just discovered that she was no longer in the running to be the next landlady.

Sharon took the news much harder, unable to believe that Linda could lie to her face for so long.

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While Linda insisted that she didn’t want to fall out with Sharon, the gym owner wouldn’t give in, and stated that they were done.

As Sharon turned to leave, the new landlady – and Linda’s mum – waltzed in with impeccable timing, announcing herself as the new owner, leaving the friends in shock.

With Elaine already making her presence known, how long will it be before she starts causing trouble?

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Sharon may never forgive Linda for this.