EastEnders' Kellie Bright addresses exit decision as Linda Carter bows out after 13 years - and talks Max romance

Kellie Bright has discussed her decision to quit EastEnders and also her character Linda Carter's romance with Max Branning.

Last month, it was confirmed that the actress will depart from the role of former Queen Vic landlady Linda in 2027 after 13 years with the show.

Speaking to Radio Times at the National Television Awards 2026, Bright discussed deciding to leave the BBC soap behind.

Bright revealed: " It was a very natural decision, is what I would say. It took a long time. It wasn't a decision I made overnight. I'm very, very grateful to have been part of the show for as long as I have. I feel really blessed to have been able to play Linda Carter for all these years, and I am just ready and looking forward to new exciting adventures."

Of course, it's not a quiet time for Linda. The former pub landlady has finally found love again - however, it is with a longtime ladies' man - and the person she once cheated on her husband, Mick Carter (Danny Dyer), with - Max Branning.

When asked if she expected Max to turn out to be Linda's next true love, Kellie responded: "Do you know what? I gave up trying to guess storylines a long time ago, because I have learnt from experience that you never know.

"I honestly thought I was the last person that was in the frame for killing Keanu - and I was wrong about that. So since then I'm like, anything goes. Who knows?"

When pressed on whether she would like to see Linda end up happy with Max after everything, Bright seemed uncertain.

 "I think they have a real connection, Max and Linda," noted Bright. "And they obviously have a child together.

"But Max Branning's Max Branning, isn't he? And I protect my Linda. You know? So who knows? We'll see."

• Read More: EastEnders star Charlie Suff breaks silence on "gutting" Johnny Carter exit and teases autumn drama

The last week ended with Max and Linda in a tentative relationship following the collapse of his short-lived marriage to Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) and the exposure of his affair with Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy), who, unbeknownst to him, is pregnant with his child.

Yet, in a final twist of the week, Max was the last person to see Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) alive as he accosted the dying Slater to stay quiet about him and Linda.

Will Linda end up the bride on New Year's Day 2027? As Bright notes, we'll have to wait and see.

Read more:

• EastEnders favourite Balvinder Sopal teases Ash return is "grenade" to the Panesar family unit this autumn
• EastEnders announces hard-hitting Amy Mitchell storyline as BBC soap works with charities
• EastEnders airs surprise twist for Zoe Slater in tragic final scenes during early BBC iPlayer release
• EastEnders legend Rob Kazinsky teases "scarier" and "premeditated" Sean Slater 20 years since debut

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Authors

Lewis is the News and Trends Editor at Radio Times and leads our approach to news, reactive content, and serving audience demands and interests. An obsessive fan of television and film, Lewis is a Nicole Kidman fanatic with a side of passion for science-fiction, art-house cinema and the latest HBO drama. Lewis has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Film Studies. After working in advertising, Lewis worked at The Mirror for three years in community management and SEO, showbiz, film and television reporting.