While Walford is still feeling the shockwaves from Keanu Taylor’s (Danny Walters) murder last Christmas, EastEnders is set to kill off another favourite over the festive period this year.
The twist was revealed after an unnamed star accidentally left a key script on a train while travelling between London and the BBC soap’s studios in Elstree, Borehamwood in Hertfordshire.
The person who found the script handed it to The Sun newspaper, who returned it to BBC bosses in a bid to keep the identity of the Christmas death victim a surprise for viewers.
With the soap’s secret safe for now, fans have been left to speculate which popular character will die. Here’s a closer examination of the key suspects…
Linda Carter
Let’s start with the obvious one, shall we?
There has been mounting speculation that killer Queen Vic landlady Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) will be the one to meet her fate over the festive period.
The character has unravelled over the last year as she’s struggled to cope with being the one who plunged a meat thermometer into Keanu’s back on Christmas night.
After turning to the bottle, Linda ended up being hospitalised with alcohol poisoning, and while she had a brief period of sobriety, she is now back on the booze again.
Could Linda’s alcoholism end up taking her life, in the same way it did former Vic landlady Angie Watts (Anita Dobson)?
Fans certainly have reason to fear Linda’s death, as last month, the Carter family were snapped on location filming funeral scenes.
Pictures revealed that Linda’s children Nancy (Maddy Hill) and Lee (Danny Hatchard) are set to return, with their sibling Johnny (Charlie Suff) pictured crying and drowning his sorrows – while actress Kellie Bright was nowhere to be seen…
Many fans also noticed that Nancy was wearing flamingo earrings in the pictures, pointing out the birds are one of Linda’s trademark decorative touches. Her mum Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) was also sporting pink nails in a potential nod to her on-screen daughter’s favourite colour.
Kellie also added to the speculation when she shared an image of a bowl she’d made at a pottery class that was adorned with the words ‘The End’.
However, some fans have also theorised that the funeral could be part of a potential ‘Christmas Carol’-esque episode focussed on Linda, as she’s presented with different scenarios if she does not stop drinking.
Others have also pointed out that the paparazzi pictures could be staged – something EastEnders has done previously. Last year, Danny Walters was snapped filming fake scenes at an airport with Lauren Branning actress Jacqueline Jossa, as bosses sought to cover up Keanu being the person who died at Christmas.
Nish Panesar
Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) made a recent exit from the Square when he was carted off by police after falsely admitting to Keanu’s murder.
The long-standing villain – who was diagnosed with a terminal illness earlier this year – agreed to take the fall for The Six on the condition ex-wife Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) did not marry partner Eve Unwin (Heather Peace) and she remained committed to him until he dies.
While he is now behind bars, something tells us we might not have yet seen the last of nasty Nish… Could he return to Walford for one last tour of terror before his on-screen death?
Suki Panesar or Eve Unwin
Suki and Eve recently confirmed they had sent a date for their wedding, which just happens to be New Year’s Day – aka, another key episode for EastEnders during the festive season.
Over the course of filming for the New Year episodes, director Christopher McGill shared numerous behind-the-scenes titbits on X (formerly Twitter), one of which included the ominous hashtag #EndofthePier.
He teased fans with a reference to ‘railway lines’, while also appearing to confirm filming was taking place on location when he posted that he was on a ‘travel day’.
Now, we know that Suki and Eve have often talked about going to Brighton, with Eve having lots of friends there – which prompted one fan to speculate on X that the seaside town (complete with its pier!) could be where the couple chose to hold their wedding.
Another fan went further and suggested Nish could return to try and ruin their wedding – with a huge stunt claiming someone’s life.
They posted: ‘Ok, Suki, Eve and all the wedding guests are getting the train to Brighton for the wedding. Nish has somehow got out of prison by then. He pulls the emergency stop, stranding them. Another train comes and crashes into them.’
Could Suki and Eve’s happy-ever-after turn into a nightmare when one of them dies on their big day?
Phil Mitchell
EastEnders is set to revisit a storyline it hinted at earlier in the year involving Walford stalwart Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden).
Having become increasingly isolated and with few allies left in the Square, fans saw the local hardman break down in tears during a private moment at home.
The coming weeks will see Phil take centre stage in a plot about his loneliness, with loved ones including ex wifes Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) becoming increasingly concerned about his mental state.
Could this be a story with a tragic and heartbreaking end for one of EastEnders’ most enduring characters?
Bernie Taylor
Since returning to Walford from visiting her mum Karen Taylor in the wake of discovering Linda killed her brother, Bernie Taylor (Clair Norris) has been determined to bring down The Six.
After she threatened to inform the police, the women have all pointed out that they won’t believe her claims while a man with a motive is already behind bars having willingly admitted to the crime.
Instead, she has started spreading the truth, recently telling Eve about fiancée Suki’s involvement in Keanu’s death.
If Bernie continues to run around Walford exposing The Six, could they strike again and take killer action in order to silence her?
Mick Carter
Now, we know what you’re thinking – didn’t Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) already die a couple of Christmases ago?
Well, technically, no.
While the former Queen Vic landlord is still presumed dead after plunging off the white cliffs of Dover in a bid to save Linda, Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) and her unborn baby back in 2022, his body was never recovered from the choppy waters below.
As such, it has always left the door open for Danny Dyer to reprise the role one day.
But with the actor having since gone on to have numerous roles in the likes of Mr Big Stuff, Heat and recent Disney+ hit Rivals, could someone have chosen to close that possibility permanently by finding his body?
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and from 6am on iPlayer.
