Is Mick Carter Coming Back to EastEnders? Danny Dyer Teases Possible Return
Fans of EastEnders have never stopped hoping for the return of Mick Carter, the much-loved landlord of The Queen Vic. And now, Danny Dyer himself has given another glimmer of hope—though he admits the call to return still hasn’t come.
Danny Dyer Says He’d Have Returned—If Asked
As EastEnders celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, the Square saw familiar faces return, including Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley). Danny Dyer, who played Mick from 2013 to 2022, revealed on The Late Late Show that he was open to joining them—but never got the invitation.
“I do get a lot of people asking if I’d go back,” Danny shared. “I’ll be honest, I would have gone back if they’d have asked me, but they didn’t ask me. I think they’ve got the hump with me now—I don’t know why!”
The actor later admitted he suspects the moment may have passed. Speaking to Metro earlier this year, he reflected, “Because I’m not coming back for the 40th, I think I missed the boat. It needs to be something special for Mick to come back.”
The Fate of Mick Carter
Mick’s dramatic exit aired on Christmas Day 2022 in a nail-biting sequence that left fans in shock. After reuniting with his true love Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Mick dived into the sea to save her following a car chase involving Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks).
He managed to rescue Janine but went missing while searching for Linda, unaware she had already reached the shore. Mick was presumed dead—but a body was never found, leaving the door wide open for a future return.
Danny has since joked that once Mick was paired with the notorious Janine, his fate was sealed. “They put me with Janine, and when you end up with Janine, you’ve got to get out,” he laughed. “You know she’s going to murder you eventually!”
Still, he hasn’t closed the chapter for good. “Who knows? Maybe I will go back,” he teased. “If the appetite’s still there, maybe bring Mick back.”
Life After the Square
Since leaving EastEnders, Danny has built an impressive list of new roles. He starred in Sky Max comedy Mr Bigstuff, appeared in the hit series Rivals, and leads the upcoming film Marching Powder.
In a candid interview, Danny said his departure was partly about taking a creative risk and finding stability. “It’s a hard job to leave,” he admitted. “You never quite know when the next pay cheque is coming. But it opens new doors.”
Despite moving on, Danny still tunes in. Watching EastEnders’ recent live episode brought back memories of the 30th anniversary celebrations. “It reminded me of when we did the lives last time—Who Killed Lucy Beale?,” he recalled. “I’ve got to say, they pulled it out of the bag.”
Will Mick Carter Ever Return?
With Danny Dyer keeping the possibility alive and Mick’s “death” still unconfirmed, EastEnders fans continue to believe the door to The Vic isn’t closed just yet. Whether it’s for a one-off return or a full-time comeback, one thing’s certain—Walford will always have room for Mick Carter.