Danny Dyer has revealed there was an alternative ending to Mick Carter's dramatic exit on EastEnders.
The actor departed the BBC soap in huge scenes airing on Christmas Day after he jumped into the freezing sea to try and save his current partner Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) and his ex-wife Linda Carter (Kellie Bright). Danny has now opened up about the possible alternative ending to Mick's demise.
He is now presumed dead - as the whole family and the rest of the Square cope with his sad loss. Linda has gone to tell the rest of the family about Mick's disappearance and likely death whilst Shirley continues to struggle.
Speaking about leaving the show, he said: "It's very emotional for me. I'm very attached to the show and it’s been a third of my career. Thirty years I’ve been knocking about in this industry and nearly ten I’ve been in this show.
"To make the decision I made, I didn’t make it lightly. It’s a huge job to walk away from. I wanted it to be a fitting end, so hopefully it is. There was an alternative ending, to be fair, but we’ve not gone with that."
Danny's co-star Kellie is glad one scene made it to the Christmas Day episode.
Kellie added: "The scene I was holding out for is the scene between Mick and Linda. If I could have made that ten times longer I probably would have done, but it had to fit within the episode. It was a beautiful moment."
Danny had admitted he was still questioning if he had made the right decision to quit right up to his leaving do.
He shared recently: "There was a lot of love for me in the room and there was a part of me that wanted to just duck out, because it was emotional for me. I just thought it would probably be easiest to leave by the back door, but actually Kellie organised something. Everyone turned out for me. It was very emotional. I did a little speech."
Producer Chris is pleased with how Danny left the show, adding: "I think Mick is not the kind of character that goes out in the back of a black cab. I am very grateful to Danny for staying a little longer and giving us a Christmas exit."
He added of Linda's continuing appearance on the show: "Linda’s still very much at the heart of Albert Square and it’s so great to have Kellie. She’s not going to get over Mick very quickly. She was just reunited with him then he was snatched away from her so it won’t be all smiles straight away.
"There are big plans for Linda. She’s going to start shooting something in January that goes out in February and it’s something that we as a show haven’t done before. Linda’s at the centre of that."
