EastEnders Shirley’s link to The Six ‘exposed’ as fans ‘work out’ deadly return twist
Shirley Carter hasn't been seen in Walford for over a year and EastEnders fans are convinced they've rumbled exactly how she will make her return to Albert Sqaure
EastEnders fans are convinced Shirley Carter is set to make an explosive return to Walford.
The fan favourite, played by Linda Henry, hasn’t been seen on screen since December 2022 when her son Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) went missing at sea after trying to save Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) and Janine Butcher (Charle Brooks). She struggled to deal with what happened and decided to take a break from Albert Square.
Shirley’s other son Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) returned in October and told Linda that Shirley had suffered a breakdown during her was hurt that Linda hadn’t been in touch with her since she saw the picture of Shirley and Dean together months prior. Linda wasn’t sure about what he said, and demanded Dean tell her an official diagnosis. He remained evasive though, refusing to confirm what was wrong with Shirley.
Linda wasn’t sure about what he said, and demanded Dean tell her an official diagnosis. He remained evasive though, refusing to confirm what was wrong with Shirley. The soap’s executive producer Chris Clenshaw previously insisted actress Linda would be back as Shirley one day.
He said at the time: “Linda Henry is currently on a break from the show. Shirley walked out of Walford last year with Lady Di in the wake of Mick’s disappearance, but it won’t be the last you see of her,” but fans have yet to see her back in Walford.” After watching Denise Fox (Diane Parish) get taken away by a mental health experts in recent scenes, fans are convinced she could end up bumping into Shirley.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: “Just an idea, now that Denise has been sectioned, do you think she’ll encounter Shirley at the same mental unit?! Dean has apparently sectioned Shirley (making it seem she wasn’t well) and Denise has Shirley as a room mate?” Another added: “Denise and Shirley were quite close before Shirley left the Square and Shirley gave Denise her key to the Vic. Imagine Libby, Chelsea or Jack visiting and they witness Shirley kicking off! They could also make Shirley a member of the Six in bringing down Dean.”
A third person wrote: “I’ve just got this image of Shirley and Denise being room mates and the pair filling each other in on what’s been happening.” A fourth social media wrote: “What If Denise bumps into Shirley?!” Denise has been struggling in the aftermath of Keanu Taylor’s death on Christmas Day.
Fans of the BBC One soap will remember Keanu was killed by Linda when she plunged a meat thermometer into his back to save her friend Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) from being strangled by her lover. The women, along with Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal), Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylofrth) and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) buried the body in the café. However, Denise’s ‘D’ necklace was also buried with the body, leaving her fearful that if the corpse is ever found it would mean that she’d be blamed for what happened to Keanu.
The Six have decided to blame Keanu for what happened to Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhury) but Denise has since been experiencing hallucinations of Keanu, with Stacey soon realising that her friend has been struggling with psychosis. She was escorted to a mental health unit in recent scenes but fans will have to wait and see if Denise bumps into her old friend Shirley.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7.30pm
