Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) returns to EastEnders next week and is shocked to see daughter Linda Carter’s (Kellie Bright) condition spiralling.
We’ve seen Linda struggle with her alcoholism over the last year, worsened after she murdered Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) and subsequently framed her rapist Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo).
Just as she thought her ordeal was over – with Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) taking the blame – Keanu’s sister Bernie (Clair Norris) arrived in Walford and threatened to expose the truth.
Linda cancelled a meeting with her recovery coordinator before necking a bottle of vodka behind The Queen Vic.
In upcoming scenes, her son Johnny (Charlie Suff) is dismayed when younger brother Ollie (Harry Farr) is distressed by their mother’s drinking.
To make matters worse, she continues to hit the bottle and throws some of the pub’s patrons out in front of the fearful youngster.
Johnny decides to confront Linda over her actions, in the hope she will change her ways for the sake of her children. Instead, she lashes out and decides to stay with best pal Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).
Unfortunately for Linda, Sharon isn’t in the most forgiving mood either as she’s made a pact with Johnny to get her on the right path.
When Bernie crosses her again, Linda rushes to the Minute Mart and tries to buy some booze from Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), but he refuses to serve her. Infuriated, she steals it off the shelf and runs.
Alfie heads to speak to Johnny, but more bad news soon reaches them when they learn that Sharon’s house has been broken into as a result of Linda leaving her front door open.
The residents are appalled by her behaviour, and despite an intervention being staged, she continues to swig from a bottle of vodka.
Understanding her anguish, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) offer to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting with her, and Johnny is overjoyed to hear that she wants to recover.
Upon Elaine’s return home from her honeymoon, she learns the severity of her daughter’s troubles and resolves to be part of her support network moving forward.
However, as Linda’s behaviour worsens, she realises she can no longer allow her to continue and delivers an ultimatum.
What will Elaine say?
