EastEnders prima Kellie Bright is to permission the soap aft playing 1 of its cardinal characters, Linda Carter, for 13 years.
She arrived successful Albert Square with on-screen hubby Mick, portrayed by Danny Dyer, erstwhile they became the caller owners of the Queen Vic pub.
Carter's matriarch quality has been cardinal to large storylines including plots astir murder, intersexual battle and alcoholism.
Bright said she made the "tough decision" to permission much than a twelvemonth agone but "happily" agreed to enactment connected to beryllium portion of an "exciting storyline".
The BBC has promised "unmissable drama" earlier her on-screen exit, which is said to beryllium a "while away" yet.
Executive shaper Ben Wadey described the histrion arsenic being "the beating bosom of EastEnders" and said she had go "a classical EastEnders icon".
Viewers person seen the much-loved quality astatine the bosom of galore affectional storylines including successful 2014 erstwhile she was raped by her brother-in-law Dean Wicks.
More than 7m radical watched the occurrence which prompted dozens of complaints. The intersexual assualt led to long-running communicative arc astir household struggle and trauma.
English (US)·