EastEnders fans ‘work out’ another major death – and it’s devastating

| Freelance Soaps Reporter Published August 24, 2026 9:26am Updated August 24, 2026 9:29am Surely not? (Picture: BBC/Metro) EastEnders fans have had their detective hats on over the weekend and have come up with a theory to explain the upcoming returns of Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) and Lee and Nancy Carter (Danny Hatchard and Maddy Hill). ‘Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) is one of the all time great EastEnders characters, so losing her is such a big moment to the show and we wanted to make sure we see Linda at her best in her final few months,’ said ‘Enders boss Ben Wadey, while teasing what’s to come at a press event this month. ‘We will be welcoming Lee and Nancy back for a period in a story where I guarantee your jaws will drop when you see it.’ Makes perfect sense, right? The two missing Carter kids will be returning especially for their mum and brother Johnny’s (Charlie Suff) big exit. But then there’s the curious case of Janine, who’s also returning and has been seen filming a funeral. As EastEnders viewers will remember, Janine, Walford’s undisputed Queen of mean, was the ultimate architect of the once-solid Carter family’s downfall, destroying the shaky remnants of Mick (Danny Dyer) and Linda’s marriage in an effort to claim Mick for herself. Their story ended in watery tragedy after a plunge off a cliff; Mick tried to rescue both Linda and Janine and was pulled into the depths, never to be seen again, with him announced as presumed dead. The theories came in thick and fast (Picture: BBC) Metro reader Tara Blige took to the comment section on Facebook and laid out her theory for the returns: ‘Only reason Janine would return is if it’s Mick’s funeral,’ she began. ‘I’m guessing that’s why Nancy and Lee return too. Then Linda will say there’s nothing holding her to stay in Walford anymore other than her mum, so she decides to leave with Nancy and Lee and Johnny follows too.’ Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. So, Janine is returning for a funeral, and we also have a mass Carter reunion. Makes sense, right? Charlotte Tolson seems to think so: ‘Lee and Nancy and Janine is coming back so guessing Mick’s body is found?’ Linda Bloemheuvel said: ‘Always liked Nancy. I guess with Janine returning as well Mick’s body has been found.’ Fans are convinced the mystery funeral is for Mick… (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron) …which explains the Carter reunion (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron) Kim Baker laid out her own dream scenario: ‘This would be my ideal ending for Linda: So Janine (as Mick’s wife) arranges a funeral for him for some reason, maybe to do with the the son she was having with him (who knows with Janine). ‘Nancy and Lee return for the funeral. Somehow Mick didn’t die and maybe had a knock to the head in the water, floated to shore somewhere, somebody finds him and helps him but he has lost memory of who he is, where he lives, he has no sort of I.D phone, wallet ect. to identify who he is. ‘After years (maybe something happened) he starts to have flashbacks of the accident, Janine, his beloved Linda and children and lets not forget his BOOZA lol. ‘The people he has met along the way do some investigating and see that a funeral has been arranged for him, he rocks up to the church gives everyone a mental breakdown from seeing a dead man lol, has final showdown with Janine and leaves for a new life with his L and children. That would be my perfect ending for Linda as I absolutely love her. Yes it a very long shot but hey a girl can dream.’ Janine destroyed the Carter family (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron) Kay Stokes offered her storyline idea, too: ‘If Mick’s body is found and it’s his funeral I think it will be a fake one and that he has already been in touch with Linda and you will see her leave, then you will see her meet up with Mick, they will go off together and that is why Lee n Nancy are coming back because they have found their dad. ‘So they will all go out of it together…and the funeral will throw Janine off Mick’s scent so she will leave him alone…maybe I’m wrong but I always said Mick wasn’t dead.’ While we don’t know who’s in the coffin yet, one thing we can say is that there are some impressive storylines hiding in the comments of Metro Soaps’ Facebook page! 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