Mick Carter met a watery end on last night's EastEnders, as he got lost at sea and feared dead after he tried to save his beloved Linda.
Mick's childhood sweetheart was driven in to the sea by her demented love rival Janine, who had been riled after Mick and Linda officially rekindled their relationship with a smooch at the bar of the Queen Vic.
Moments earlier, the scheming serial bride's plot to steal the much-loved pub landlord had finally been revealed – with her daughter Scarlett confirming that she had faked Linda's drink driving accident, and teen mum Jada making a special return to confirm that she had been blackmailed in to setting up a social services sting that saw Linda's daughter Annie Branning temporarily taken in to care.
There was more drama – and heartache – for Linda to come as she joined her ex-husband in a car chase, tracking Janine to Dover where, after a scuffle that saw Linda jump in to the passenger seat to try and stop her frenzied behaviour, Janine drove off a cliff.
It sparked the start of Danny Dyer's dramatic final scenes, which involved him diving in to the freezing cold English Channel to firstly free his pregnant wife, then returning to the waves to seek out his beloved 'L'. But his heroic antics left some viewers confused.
"Remember when Mick had a whole storyline about not being able to swim," tweeted one.
"Couldn't even swim when he came to Albert Square now he's deep sea diving well done Mick," said another.
But others loved seeing the pint-pulling geezer meet a watery end – as it echoed one of his first storylines being taught how to paddle by Ian Beale in 2014. He had a fear of water after his mum, Shirley, tried to drown him in the bath as a child.
One fan said: "When I remembered Mick once saying he was afraid of water/can’t swim. The emotional exit was such a fitting end for our Mick Carter era; acting (give Danny, Kellie and Charlie awards now please), cinematography and music all sent chills down my spine.."
Another added: "Just thinking back to when Mick couldn't swim because he had a phobia of water. Then he learned after agreeing to do a sponsored swim for Janet Mitchell... RIP Mick Carter."
It's not the first time that Mick has braved the waves in the name of love. In 2020 he saved Linda after she became trapped inside a sinking party boat that sunk in the Thames.
EastEnders bosses are staying tight-lipped about if Mick Carter will be officially drowned at sea or missing and presumed dead, leaving the door open for the character to return for the moment.
Danny Dyer originally joined the show in 2013, but revealed earlier this year he was leaving to explore other projects and spend time with his family.
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