Eastenders fans have a theory about Mick Carter's dramatic exit from the BBC soap, and now Danny Dyer has dropped a major hint that they could be right.
In a tense hour-long episode on Christmas Day, viewers watched as Mick jumped into the sea to save his ex-wife Linda from drowning, unaware that she had managed to save herself. The dramatic scenes unfolded after the Queen Vic landlord found out his new wife Janine Butcher, played by Charlie Brooks, had engineered his break-up by framing Linda, who struggled with alcoholism, as the cause of a car crash.
The festive episode saw Mick and Linda follow Janine to Dover. After they catch up with her, Janine kicks and slaps Mick on the clifftop leaving him rolling around on the ground before Linda jumps into her car in an attempt to stop her getting away.
READ MORE: BBC EastEnders fans say 'Christmas ruined' after dramatic festive episode
As the car swerves across the road, Linda struggles to get control of the steering wheel before the pair plummet off the side of the cliff into the water below. Mick throws himself over the cliff and, after finding the car underwater, follows Linda’s instructions to help Janine, who is pregnant with his baby, to safety first.
Realising Linda has not re-surfaced, Mick throws himself back into the treacherous water as viewers watch Linda crawl on to the shore in emotional scenes. In sheer panic, Linda wails: “Where is he, where is he? Mick, Mick,” before falling to her knees on the beach in slow motion as Mick does not return to the shore.
Dyer, 45, has confirmed he has quit the show after almost a decade, having joined the cast on Christmas Day in 2013. But fans have a theory that he could be back one day, despite seemingly being lost at sea.
Viewers on Twitter have suggested that Mick could be alive but suffering from amnesia, which would explain why he isn't returning to Albert Square. Some believe he could 'pull a Harold Bishop' - a reference to the famous Neighbours storyline which saw Ian Smith's character swept out to sea before returning to the soap five years later with a new identity having forgotten who he was.
One fan wrote: "Mick will be found by some shipmen and then get amnesia then 5 to 10 years he’ll mysteriously come back when kellie is going to leave the square and they’ll leave together, MANIFESTING IT NOW !!!!" Another posted: "I hope Mick Carter survived and has amnesia, he remembers or he is spotted in 5 years time."
A third posted: "I hope Mick Carter hasn't drowned. It took me a second, but then I remembered Mick learnt to swim all those years ago. So I wanna say he'll come back in a few years after thinking Linda died, had a spot of amnesia, and comes back when he remembers." Speaking of his departure, Dyer said his character had come “full circle” as he was originally afraid of water before Ian Beale taught him how to swim.
The actor has since dropped a major hint that we might not have seen the last of Mick. He took to Instagram today, posting to his story from an exotic-looking beach, to tells fans 'not to worry' about his exit.
"Don't worry, I know it was emotional last night. It was a very nutty episode, but don't be concerned because I f*****g made it," he told his followers as the sea lapped the white sandy beach behind him. "I mean it was a c*** of a swim, but let me tell you it was worth it. Mick needed a rest and a new chapter."
He continued: "I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all my castmates. I love you all, every single one of you and I'm very honoured to have worked with you for as long as I have and I'll relish those moments for the rest of my life. I'm not going to name names, there's too many of you, but of course my Carter family mean everything to me.
"It's the end of an era but, like I said, I'm very grateful for everything, including running the Queen Vic. So, again, don't stress and especially the fans who have voted for me and invested in Mick and made him the character he is. But you know, he had to get away – Janine was driving him f*****g mad. So Merry Christmas, happy new year and don't worry about Mick because he's sweet as a f*****g nut."
Co-star Charlie was quick to comment, writing "love you" alongside three laughing emojis. Danielle Harold, who plays Lola Pearce in the soap, said: "Brilliant", while Freddie Slater actor Bobby Brazier commented a sting of crying laughing faces.
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