Kellie Bright shed "lots of tears" as Danny Dyer filmed his exit scenes on EastEnders.
The soap star has played Linda Carter alongside Danny's Mick Carter for a number of years, but the actor is making his exit from the BBC One soap this Christmas in huge scenes. There has been much speculated about his exit and what it will mean for the residents of the Walford, amid rumours he could die in shock scenes to be broadcasted this Christmas.
Opening up about the final scenes, Kellie warned there will be "lots of tears" at home, as she admitted it was an "end of era" seeing Danny depart the soap. She said his exit didn't hit her until they marked it at Danny's leaving party.
Speaking about the final scenes, she said: "There were lots of tears on and off screen from me! I’m terrible at goodbyes anyway, and I hate change. It does feel like a massive end of an era. To have someone in your life on a daily basis for nine years and then to have to say goodbye to them is tough. I still speak to Danny all the time, and I’ll still see him, but it won’t be the same.
"It wasn’t until Danny’s leaving party, where they put together a montage of his best bits, and there was so much in it, that it hit me. There was stuff we’d forgotten about, and it was such a reminder of the stuff that we’ve done together."
She added: "It was amazing to see, we told so many stories, and we were such a team. One of the hardest things I’ve found this year was Mick and Linda being split up. I’d have loved more Mick and Linda together. But I’ve loved working with Charlie Brooks. I’ve found a new friend in her, and I love her to pieces. In many ways, it was just as hard saying goodbye to her as it was to Danny!"
Kellie says she is very proud of what her and Danny have achieved playing the much-loved soap couple and thinks her role on the BBC soap was definitely "meant to be" as she had auditioned for EastEnders multiple times.
"Sometimes things are just meant to be. I auditioned for EastEnders so many times and was close to getting some roles. But my next job was a play in Manchester, where I met my husband, and then four years later, I auditioned for Linda," she explained.
"I think it was meant to be, and the pairing of Danny and me was written in the stars! We’re proud of what we’ve done on the show together. We laughed a lot during those years, and Danny is one of my best friends."
She added: "We’ve been through so much together, and our scenes have always been a joy. We’re very different actors with different approaches, but we complement each other. I think we’ve been really lucky."
*EastEnders will air Mick Carter's final scenes on Christmas Day at 9.25pm on BBC One.
