EastEnders fans are convinced they have worked out Mick Carter’s return date after Danny Dyer left the soap

EastEnders fans are convinced they’ve figured out when fan-favourite Mick Carter might be making his return to Albert Square.

Mick, played by Danny Dyer, first graced our screens in 2013 as part of the Carter family and quickly became a hit with viewers as the landlord of the Queen Vic. Over the years, Mick was at the centre of several major storylines.

However, in 2022, Danny announced he was leaving the soap, much to the disappointment of fans. His dramatic exit aired on Christmas Day that year, where Mick seemingly drowned while trying to save his estranged wife Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

Despite no body ever being found, Mick’s presumed death left ex-wife Linda devastated, and since then, fans have been eagerly awaiting his return.

This anticipation has only grown over the past year, following Linda’s relapse into alcoholism and her murder of Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters). Still plagued by guilt, Linda is hoping for the return of her beloved Mick, and during Thursday’s episode (December 5), she fondly remembered their past Christmases together, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Now, fans believe they’ve cracked the code on when Mick will make his comeback – and it’s sooner than you might think. Spoilers suggest that a special episode focusing on Linda Carter will air later this month. The beloved character has been battling her alcohol addiction recently, and things are about to take a darker turn.

EastEnders viewers are buzzing with the possibility of a Christmas Carol-themed episode, and they’re convinced that Linda Carter’s special episode on Monday, December 16 will feature the much-talked-about twist. The speculation is rife that this could mark the return of Mick Carter, albeit as a figment of Linda’s imagination.

On a Reddit thread, one viewer speculated: “With the newest soap spoilers telling us that December 16th will be an episode completely focused on Linda and her ‘dangerous night of alcohol abuse’ do we think maybe THAT is the episode we’ll see the rumoured Christmas Carol plot? ” They continued: “We know that Christmas Day is more focused on Cindy and Juniors affair reveal anyway, so it could make more sense to have that episode air pre-Christmas,” they added.

Another fan theorised about Danny Dyer’s potential comeback: “The only way i can see danny dyer returning is if it’s a part of the christmas carol theory and one of the visions is what it would be like if mick never died,” while another suggested: “I think it could be a Christmas Carol/Hallucination/what if episode for both characters. For example Linda sees Mick as a hallucination and sees multiple scenarios like if she continues to drink etc.”

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer