Linda Carter is coming home — but Walford is no longer the place she left behind.

After a long absence from EastEnders, Kellie Bright’s character, Linda Carter, is finally making her way back to Albert Square. The BBC has officially confirmed her return during the week of December 15, and early spoilers suggest she’ll be walking straight into emotional chaos — including a long-awaited showdown with Max Branning.

A Return Years in the Making

Linda has been absent since July, choosing to escape her demons and the haunting memories of The Queen Vic by travelling with her children Johnny, Ollie, and little Annie. While she’s spent months trying to reset and rediscover herself abroad, life in Walford has only grown more complicated.

What awaits her now is a community fractured by secrets, a pub she no longer calls home, and the sudden return of a man who almost destroyed her life: Max Branning.

The Queen Vic Is No Longer Her Sanctuary

Once the vibrant matriarch of The Vic, Linda’s life was defined by the pub — and all the pain it brought. From her long battle with alcoholism to the heart-wrenching loss of Mick, Linda endured years of trauma in the building she once ruled.

When she left in July, the decision to walk away from the Vic was as much about survival as it was about grief. The pub, now run by Kat and Alfie, represents a past she isn’t sure she can face. But returning to Walford means confronting everything she left behind.

Max Branning’s Return Raises the Stakes

In a major twist, EastEnders has also confirmed that Jake Wood will reprise his role as Max Branning in the same week Linda returns. This sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation that’s been four years in the making.

Fans will remember the scandal surrounding Annie’s paternity — a secret that linked Linda and Max forever. After the affair that nearly tore the Carter family apart, Max disappeared from the Square under a cloud of shame and resentment. His reappearance now, timed perfectly with Linda’s return, suggests the truth may finally come to light.

Could Max try to reconnect with his daughter? Will Linda be forced to confess everything to the people she loves most? And how will her return affect the fragile balance at The Vic?

Nothing Is the Same — and That’s the Point

Linda’s return promises to shake up storylines across the Square. With the Slater family imploding, the Queen Vic under new leadership, and Max Branning stepping back into the spotlight, her homecoming couldn’t come at a more volatile moment.

One thing is certain: Linda Carter is no longer running from the past. But will the truth set her free — or tear her apart for good?

Are you ready for Linda vs. Max: Round Two? Let us know your predictions as Walford prepares for one of its biggest confrontations of the year.