soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the Ea ...

Danny Dyer Danial John Dyer (born 24 July 1977) is an English actor and presenter. Dyer's breakthrough role was as Moff in ''Human Traffic'', with other notable roles as Mick Carter in EastEnders, Billy the Limpet in '' Mean Machine'' and as Tommy Johns ...

Linda Carter Linda Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Kellie Bright. She first appeared on 19 December 2013 and her casting was announced alongside her on-screen partner, Mick Carter ( Danny Dyer). Linda was ...

Kellie Bright Kellie Denise Bright (born 1 July 1976) is an English actress. Her roles include Linda Carter in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', for which she won the 2015 British Soap Award for Best Actress and Best Dramatic Performance, Julie in ''Ali G I ...

Shirley Carter Shirley Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Linda Henry. She first appeared on 7 December 2006, during episodes set in Dorset. This is Henry's second role in ''EastEnders'', as she previously played ...

Linda Henry Linda Varilis (''née'' Henry; born 24 August 1959) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Yvonne Atkins in the ITV drama '' Bad Girls'' and Shirley Carter in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', a role she has played since 2006. S ...

The Queen Victoria The Queen Victoria (more often referred to as The Queen Vic or The Vic) is the Victorian public house in the BBC soap opera, ''EastEnders''. It has the fictional address of 46 Albert Square, Walford, London E20. Appearance and developmen ...

public house A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...

Sam Strike Samuel Harry Strike (born 18 January 1994) is an English actor. Life and career Strike was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. He starred in two revival series of CBBC's ''M.I. High'' as Dan Morgan from 2013–2014. In 2014, Strike guest starred ...

Ted Reilly Ted Reilly (born 14 September 1991) is a British actor, who played the role of Johnny Carter in '' EastEnders'' from 2016–2018, because the original actor chose not to return, and the show's producers recast the role. Before that, however, he ...

Nancy Carter Nancy Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Maddy Hill. Nancy's first appearance is in a combination of the show's 4775th and 4776th episodes, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2 ...

Maddy Hill Madeleine Kate Hayley Hill (born 19 March 1990) is an English actress, known for her roles as Nancy Carter in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' and Ruby Spark in the BBC medical drama ''Casualty''. Career Hill trained at Rose Bruford College d ...

Lee Carter Lee Carter may refer to: * Lee Carter (baseball), American baseball player *Lee Carter (comics), British fantasy artist * Lee Carter (''EastEnders''), fictional character * Lee J. Carter (born 1987), member of the Virginia House of Delegates * Vipe ...

Danny-Boy Hatchard Danny-Boy Hatchard (born 26 July 1991) is an English actor, known for portraying the role of Lee Carter in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. Hatchard's other credits include Aaron in the 2014 film ''We Still Kill the Old Way'' and Steven Pierc ...

Dominic Treadwell-Collins Dominic Treadwell-Collins (born 26 August 1977) is a British television producer, known for his work on the soap operas ''Family Affairs'' and ''EastEnders'', creating the ''EastEnders'' spin-off series ''Kat & Alfie: Redwater'' and Executive Pr ...

Frank Butcher Frank Butcher is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Mike Reid (actor), Mike Reid. Frank makes his first appearance on-screen as a guest character in 1987, but due to a positive viewer reception, he is reintr ...

Dean Wicks Dean Wicks (known as Deano in his initial stint) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'' played by Matt Di Angelo. He made his first appearance on 2 January 2006. It was announced on 18 August 2007 that the characters of ...

Matt Di Angelo Mario Angelo S Constantinou (born 1 May 1987), professionally known as Matt Di Angelo, is a British actor and singer, best known for his role as Dean Wicks in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders''. He also portrayed Sean Kennedy in the BBC drama s ...

Stan Carter Stan Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', portrayed by Timothy West. He first appeared in the show's 4,793rd episode, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 27 January 2014, and was introduced as the f ...

Timothy West Timothy Lancaster West, CBE (born 20 October 1934) is an English actor and presenter. He has appeared frequently on both stage and television, including stints in both ''Coronation Street'' (as Eric Babbage) and ''EastEnders'' (as Stan Carter) ...

Ollie Carter The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' in 2015, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by the show's executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins. January saw the a ...

Whitney Carter Whitney Dean (also Carter) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Shona McGarty. The character is the ward of long-running character Bianca Jackson ( Patsy Palmer) and was introduced on 1 April 2008 whe ...

Shona McGarty Shona McGarty (born 14 October 1991) is an English actress and singer who portrays Whitney Dean in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. Career Before joining ''EastEnders'', McGarty had been involved in amateur musical theatre for six years, in ...

Stuart Highway Stuart Highway is a major Australia, Australian highway. It runs from Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin, in the Northern Territory, via Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, to Port Augusta in South Australia; a distance of . Its northern and sou ...

Ricky Champ Ricky Champ (born 1 July 1980) is an English actor. He is known for his roles as Paul Parker in the BBC Three sitcom ''Him & Her'', and Stuart Highway in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. Champ has also appeared in ''Crims'', ''Plebs'', and th ...

Simone Lahbib Simone Nicole Jean Lahbib Ould Cheikl (; born 6 February 1965) is a Scottish actress. She is known for her roles as Helen Stewart in the ITV drama series '' Bad Girls'', DCI Alex Fielding in the ITV crime series ''Wire in the Blood'' and Katy L ...

Janine Butcher Janine Carter (also Butcher, Evans and Malloy) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', introduced in 1989. The character was played by Rebecca Michael from 1989 to 1993, Alexia Demetriou from 1993 to 1996, and Charlie ...

Charlie Brooks Charlene Emma Brooks (born 3 May 1981) is a British actress. Known for the role of Janine Butcher in the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'', she has received numerous awards since her first appearance on the soap in 1999, with storylines invo ...

Digital Spy Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...

Metro Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to: Geography * Metro (city), a city in Indonesia * A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center Public transport * Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urba ...

National Television Award The National Television Awards (often shortened to NTAs) is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV (TV network), ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the ...

Shirley Carter Shirley Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Linda Henry. She first appeared on 7 December 2006, during episodes set in Dorset. This is Henry's second role in ''EastEnders'', as she previously played ...

Linda Henry Linda Varilis (''née'' Henry; born 24 August 1959) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Yvonne Atkins in the ITV drama '' Bad Girls'' and Shirley Carter in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', a role she has played since 2006. S ...

Luisa Bradshaw-White Luisa Bradshaw-White (born 9 December 1974) is a former English actress, known for playing Tina Carter in '' EastEnders'' and for her previous roles on '' Bad Girls'', '' Holby City'' and ''This Life''. She has also made appearances in televisi ...

Linda Carter Linda Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Kellie Bright. She first appeared on 19 December 2013 and her casting was announced alongside her on-screen partner, Mick Carter ( Danny Dyer). Linda was ...

Kellie Bright Kellie Denise Bright (born 1 July 1976) is an English actress. Her roles include Linda Carter in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', for which she won the 2015 British Soap Award for Best Actress and Best Dramatic Performance, Julie in ''Ali G I ...

Elaine Peacock The following are characters who first appeared, or returned, in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' during 2014 listed by order of first appearance. All new characters in 2014 were introduced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, executive producer. ...

Maria Friedman Maria Friedman ( Freedman; born 19 March 1960) is a British actress and director of stage and screen, best known for her work in musical theatre. She is an eight-time Olivier Award nominee, winning three. Her first win was for her 1994 one-wo ...

Watford Watford () is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, 15 miles northwest of Central London, on the River Colne. Initially a small market town, the Grand Junction Canal encouraged the construction of paper-making mills, print works, a ...

The Queen Victoria The Queen Victoria (more often referred to as The Queen Vic or The Vic) is the Victorian public house in the BBC soap opera, ''EastEnders''. It has the fictional address of 46 Albert Square, Walford, London E20. Appearance and developmen ...

public house A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...

Sam Strike Samuel Harry Strike (born 18 January 1994) is an English actor. Life and career Strike was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. He starred in two revival series of CBBC's ''M.I. High'' as Dan Morgan from 2013–2014. In 2014, Strike guest starred ...

bulldog The Bulldog is a British breed of dog of mastiff type. It may also be known as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog. It is of medium size, a muscular, hefty dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose.Lady Di (Hot Lips) the next day. Mick, Linda and Johnny attend the wedding of daughter

Nancy Carter Nancy Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Maddy Hill. Nancy's first appearance is in a combination of the show's 4775th and 4776th episodes, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2 ...

(

Maddy Hill Madeleine Kate Hayley Hill (born 19 March 1990) is an English actress, known for her roles as Nancy Carter in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' and Ruby Spark in the BBC medical drama ''Casualty''. Career Hill trained at Rose Bruford College d ...

) to Wayne Ladlow (

Malachi Kirby Malachi Kirby is a British actor and writer. He gained prominence through his roles in the 2016 ''Roots'' remake and the ''Black Mirror'' episode "Men Against Fire". He earned a BAFTA for his performance in '' Small Axe'': ''Mangrove''. Early ...

), but Mick disapproves of their relationship, so carries her away before they are married. During an argument, Nancy reveals to her parents that Johnny is gay. Mick supports Johnny, saying he is proud of him. Mick tries to get Linda to accept Johnny's sexuality. When the Carters discover that The Queen Vic has a problem with

rising damp Structural dampness is the presence of unwanted moisture in the structure of a building, either the result of intrusion from outside or condensation from within the structure. A high proportion of damp problems in buildings are caused by ambient ...

, Tina convinces Mick and Shirley to visit their father,

Stan Carter Stan Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', portrayed by Timothy West. He first appeared in the show's 4,793rd episode, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 27 January 2014, and was introduced as the f ...

(

Timothy West Timothy Lancaster West, CBE (born 20 October 1934) is an English actor and presenter. He has appeared frequently on both stage and television, including stints in both ''Coronation Street'' (as Eric Babbage) and ''EastEnders'' (as Stan Carter) ...

), who they have a less than amicable relationship with after he left the Carter children in care. After Stan suffers a fall, Linda persuades Mick to check on Stan. Mick discovers there has been a break in and disturbs the thief, who punches him and flees. Mick suspects that it was his son

Lee Carter Lee Carter may refer to: * Lee Carter (baseball), American baseball player *Lee Carter (comics), British fantasy artist * Lee Carter (''EastEnders''), fictional character * Lee J. Carter (born 1987), member of the Virginia House of Delegates * Vipe ...

(

Danny Hatchard Danny-Boy Hatchard (born 26 July 1991) is an English actor, known for portraying the role of Lee Carter in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. Hatchard's other credits include Aaron in the 2014 film ''We Still Kill the Old Way'' and Steven Pierc ...

), who may have run away from serving in the army in Afghanistan. Mick visits Stan in the hospital and enquires about Lee, and Stan assures him that he has not seen Lee. Mick leaves the hospital angry after Stan asks to stay at The Queen Vic, but Tina is angry to find out that Stan is in hospital and Mick has not told her. Tina brings Stan to The Queen Vic to stay for three weeks. Mick reluctantly agrees and is further angered when Stan makes derogatory comments about both Tina and Johnny's homosexualities and about the dangers faced by Lee in the army. Stan also tells Mick about a time when his mother tried to drown him in the bath when he was an infant. Mick and Stan's relationship starts to thaw, annoying Shirley. Mick attempts to reunite Shirley with her estranged son,

Dean Wicks Dean Wicks (known as Deano in his initial stint) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'' played by Matt Di Angelo. He made his first appearance on 2 January 2006. It was announced on 18 August 2007 that the characters of ...

(

Matt Di Angelo Mario Angelo S Constantinou (born 1 May 1987), professionally known as Matt Di Angelo, is a British actor and singer, best known for his role as Dean Wicks in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders''. He also portrayed Sean Kennedy in the BBC drama s ...

), with little success. Tina refers to the incident involving a young Mick in the bathtub, citing the event as happening after their mother left. This confuses Mick, and he concludes that it was Stan who tried to kill him and attacks him, prompting Shirley to admit that she had attempted to drown him.

Phil Mitchell Phil Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Steve McFadden. He was introduced to the soap opera on 20 February 1990 and was followed by his brother Grant Mitchell (EastEnders), Grant (Ross Kemp), s ...

(

Steve McFadden Steve Robert McFadden (né Reid; born 20 March 1959) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Phil Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'', which he has played since 1990. He was also the presenter of the game show, ''Britain's ...

) finds out from Shirley that Mick is actually her son, his father is a man named Andy and her mother

Sylvie Carter The following are characters who first appeared, or returned, in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' during 2014 listed by order of first appearance. All new characters in 2014 were introduced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, executive producer. ...

(

Linda Marlowe Linda Virginia Marlowe (née Bathurst, born 26 July 1940) is an Australian-born British film, theatre, and television actress. She is noted for her association with Steven Berkoff, performing in many of his theatrical works, creating a one-woman ...

) concealed the pregnancy and brought Mick up as her and Stan's son. Shirley warns Phil not to tell Mick. Despite not being able to swim and having a phobia of water, Mick signs up to a sponsored swim in aid of his friend

Billy Mitchell William Lendrum Mitchell (December 29, 1879 – February 19, 1936) was a United States Army officer who is regarded as the father of the United States Air Force. Mitchell served in France during World War I and, by the conflict's end, command ...

's (

Perry Fenwick Perry Fenwick (born 29 May 1962) is an English actor. He is known for portraying the role of Billy Mitchell (EastEnders), Billy Mitchell in the BBC One, BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', a role which he has played since 1998. Career Television ...

) young daughter, Janet Mitchell (Grace), who has

Down's syndrome Down syndrome or Down's syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. It is usually associated with physical growth delays, mild to moderate intellectual disa ...

. He starts to learn at the local swimming pool, and confesses his fear to his friend,

Ian Beale Ian Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Adam Woodyatt. He is the drama's longest-serving main character and, following the departure of Pauline Fowler ( Wendy Richard) in 2006, became the only one ...

(

Adam Woodyatt Adam Brinley Woodyatt (born 28 June 1968) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Ian Beale in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', which he played between 1985 and 2022. Early life and education Woodyatt was born on 28 June 1968 in W ...

). Ian helps him overcome this fear and he makes progress. Linda tells Mick she wants another baby after she realises her children are too old to require her constant attention. Mick convinces Linda that this is not a good idea, but proposes to her, as they are not actually married, though their families think they are. Linda turns down the proposal, liking things as they are, and then she finds out that Dean has overheard this conversation. Mick successfully completes his swim for charity, but on his way home, he sees Ian talking to

Rainie Cross Rainie Highway (also Cross and Branning) is a fictional character from the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Tanya Franks. Introduced as the drug-addicted sister of Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner), Franks has had three separate guest stin ...

(

Tanya Franks Tanya Christine Franks (born 16 August 1967) is an English actress, producer and writer. She has had starring roles on the television shows ''Family Affairs'', ''The Bill'', ''Pulling (TV series), Pulling'', ''EastEnders'' and ''Broadchurch''. ...

) through the window of Ian's car. Mick pulls up behind them but Ian drives away, so Rainie, a prostitute, propositions Mick. He says he is not interested, and then the police arrive. Rainie claims Mick is a regular punter, so he is arrested for soliciting. Later, Ian explains that he had sex with Rainie on the night his daughter

Lucy Beale Lucy Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. The character was played by Eva Brittin-Snell (from 1993 to 1996), Casey Anne Rothery (from 1996 until 2004), Melissa Suffield (from 2004 to 2010), and Hetti Bywater ...

(

Hetti Bywater Harriet Jessica Phoebe “Hetti” Bywater (born 10 September 1994) is an English former actress. She is best known for portraying Lucy Beale in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', taking over the role from Melissa Suffield in January 2012 until ...

) was murdered (see

Who Killed Lucy Beale? "Who Killed Lucy Beale?" is a storyline from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders''. It was announced on 21 February 2014 and began on 18 April 2014, when Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater) was discovered dead on Walford Common from a deliberately inflicte ...

), so Mick agrees not to tell anyone, though he is forced to tell Linda when she receives a call from his solicitor.

Cora Cross Cora Cross is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Ann Mitchell. Cora is the mother of Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner), Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks) and Ava Hartman ( Claire Perkins) and the grandmother of Lauren (J ...

(

Ann Mitchell Ann Mitchell (born 22 April 1939) is a British stage and television actress. She came to prominence in the 1980s when she starred as Dolly Rawlins in the crime series ''Widows'' as well as the sequels '' Widows 2'' and ''She's Out'', all writte ...

) overhears this and supports Linda at the court. Mick pleads guilty, and Cora discovers that the prostitute is her daughter. She reveals Mick's alleged crime to everyone in The Queen Vic. Linda hates that Mick has put Ian before his own family, so Mick resolves to make Ian tell the truth to his partner

Denise Fox Denise Fox (also Wicks and Johnson) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', played by Diane Parish. She made her first appearance on 11 May 2006 and temporarily left ''EastEnders'' in early 2008 to give birth to her ...

(

Diane Parish Diane Parish (born 1 November 1969) is an English actress, who has been portraying the character Denise Fox on the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'' since 2006 Born in Chelsea, London and a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Pari ...

). Mick is upset when Shirley leaves Walford after accidentally shooting Phil. Linda becomes cold towards him and refuses to have sex; Mick deduces that she is pregnant. She denies this, but he discovers Linda is pregnant and is planning to have a secret abortion. After a discussion, they agree to keep the baby. Stan reveals he has terminal prostate cancer, leading Mick to enlist Dean's help in tracking down Shirley to try and convince her to return. They find her staying in a caravan with Buster Briggs (

Karl Howman Karl Howman (born 13 December 1953) is an English actor and voice-over artist. He is best known for playing Jacko in the sitcom ''Brush Strokes'' from 1986 to 1991, Mulberry in ''Mulberry'' from 1992 to 1993 and Buster Briggs in ''EastEnders'' ...

) and she soon returns. Mick and Shirley find that Shirley and Tina's mother, Sylvie, is staying with her sister

Babe Smith Babe Smith (also known as Aunt Babe) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', portrayed by Annette Badland. She first appeared in episode 4796 of the show, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 31 January 2014, ...

(

Annette Badland Annette Badland (born 26 August 1950) is an English actress known for a wide range of roles on television, radio, stage, and film. She is best known for her roles as Margaret Blaine in the BBC science fiction series ''Doctor Who'', Mrs. Glen ...

). Babe reveals that Sylvie has

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in short-term me ...

. Mick plans to propose to Linda, but Linda reveals to Mick that Dean raped her. Dean claims that he and Linda had an affair, so Mick attacks Dean. To stop the attack, Shirley reveals that Dean and Mick are brothers and she is Mick's mother, and it emerges that Buster is Mick's father as well as Dean's. Linda claims that their relationship can survive as long as nobody else finds out that she was raped. She eavesdrops while Mick, Tina, Shirley, Babe and Stan argue, only to hear Mick deny that Dean is part of the family. Mick tells Stan and Tina that Dean raped Linda. When he realises Linda has left, a despairing and devastated Mick smashes up the bar. Mick and Linda later report the rape to the police. When Mick learns that Shirley was forced to keep the secret of being his mother out of fear that she would never see him again, he decides to give her another chance, as long as Dean keeps his distance from him. He is shocked to learn that Stan wants him and Tina to help him die and stops Tina from doing so. The next week, Dean is arrested and released on bail. He refuses to leave Walford on Shirley's insistence until Mick orders him to. Dean returns and sneaks into the pub's cellar, intending to set fire to it, and taking Nancy hostage. Mick stops him and chokes him until he is unconscious, but Dean goes missing after this. Linda proposes to Mick and he accepts. Nancy believes Mick has killed Dean, until Dean returns. Linda gives birth prematurely to

Ollie Carter The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' in 2015, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by the show's executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins. January saw the a ...

after falling down the stairs. Dean believes the baby is his until Mick discovers he, Linda and Ollie share the same blood group, but Dean's is different, meaning Dean cannot be Ollie's father. Mick and Buster then start to bond. Mick and Linda bring Ollie home, where Mick ejects Dean after he attempts to shake Linda's hand. Mick and Shirley reunite when they scatter Stan's ashes. Dean starts a relationship with

Roxy Mitchell Roxanne "Roxy" Mitchell (also Slater) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, ''EastEnders'', portrayed by Rita Simons.Rita Simons Rita Joanne Simons (born 10 March 1977) is an English actress and singer from London. She is best known for playing Roxy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 2007 to 2017, when her character was killed-off, alongside her on screen ...

), so her sister

Ronnie Mitchell Veronica "Ronnie" Branning (also Mitchell) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, ''EastEnders'', played by Samantha Womack. She and her younger sister Roxy Mitchell (played by Rita Simons) were introduced by executive producer Dieder ...

(

Samantha Womack Samantha Zoe Womack (''Birth name, née'' Janus; born 2 November 1972) is an English actress, singer, model and director who has worked in film, television and stage. Womack initially planned a career in singing and she represented the Unite ...

) tries to get Mick to help her get rid of Dean, but he refuses to help. Mick lies to his family so he can take Ollie to see Shirley, but they soon find out and Linda is initially not happy. Dean attempts to rape Roxy when she ends the relationship; Shirley witnesses this and realises Dean did rape Linda, and she tries to drown him but is unsuccessful. At Mick and Linda's wedding, Dean arrives and tries to drown Shirley in a lake, but Mick rescues Shirley and then resuscitates Dean after he nearly drowns, wanting him to face punishment. Dean is arrested, and Mick and Linda get married. When they return from their honeymoon, they discover that Lee's girlfriend,

Whitney Dean Whitney Dean (also Carter) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Shona McGarty. The character is the ward of long-running character Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and was introduced on 1 April 2008 when Pal ...

's (

Shona McGarty Shona McGarty (born 14 October 1991) is an English actress and singer who portrays Whitney Dean in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. Career Before joining ''EastEnders'', McGarty had been involved in amateur musical theatre for six years, in ...

), brother

Ryan Malloy Ryan Malloy is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Neil McDermott. From his arrival on 28 April 2009, the character remained a mystery in the show for a number of months, until he was revealed as the half-brot ...

(

Neil McDermott Neil McDermott (born 15 December 1980) is a British stage and television actor, who is best known for portraying Ryan Malloy in the BBC television soap opera ''EastEnders''. Career McDermott appeared in the 2008 ''Doctor Who'' episode "The Next ...

) has stolen £5,000 from the safe. Mick accompanies Whitney to meet Ryan and Mick convinces Ryan to return the money and hand himself to the police, because he is on the run from the police, to which Ryan agrees. Whitney tells Mick that she has feelings for him and kisses him. Mick tells Linda this, so Linda encourages Whitney not to give up on Lee. When Nancy and Lee have an argument, Nancy pushes Lee, which results Ollie being knocked out of his high chair. Mick and Linda do not witness this, and Ollie seems fine so Linda says he does not need medical attention. However, she later finds him not breathing, and when she resuscitates him, he suffers a seizure. In hospital, the family are informed that Ollie could have brain damage; Mick blames Nancy and says he cannot forgive her, but Linda defends her and eventually forces them to work together to get Ollie the medical care he needs. Mick is devastated at Dean's acquittal but Linda reassures him. The Carters are later devastated when a pregnant Whitney suffers a

miscarriage Miscarriage, also known in medical terms as a spontaneous abortion and pregnancy loss, is the death of an embryo or fetus before it is able to survive independently. Miscarriage before 6 weeks of gestation is defined by ESHRE as biochemical lo ...

but are delighted when Lee and Whitney get married. Mick struggles look after his family when Linda goes to Spain to look after her ill mother Elaine who suffers a stroke during the Christmas break. Mick is then unhappy to learn that Lee's depression has made him contemplate suicide and that he is in debt, which Mick offers to pay. When Whitney is injured in a bus crash, Mick accompanies her to the hospital and after he assures her that she is a good wife to Lee, she kisses him, which is seen by

Denise Fox Denise Fox (also Wicks and Johnson) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', played by Diane Parish. She made her first appearance on 11 May 2006 and temporarily left ''EastEnders'' in early 2008 to give birth to her ...

(

Diane Parish Diane Parish (born 1 November 1969) is an English actress, who has been portraying the character Denise Fox on the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'' since 2006 Born in Chelsea, London and a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Pari ...

). Babe breaches the pub licence when she sells alcohol in the morning, when the licence does not cover this. An undercover police officer becomes a regular customer, and eventually Mick, Babe and Shirley are arrested, charged and fined £20,000 in court. Babe leaves Sylvie near the canal, in an attempt to let her drown; when Sylvie is found, it is revealed Babe is responsible and Mick evicts her after she starts insulting Linda. The next day, Mick is disgusted to learn that Lee had hit Whitney during a row and confides in Shirley who suggest that Lee and Whitney should be separated for Whitney's safety, which he regretfully tells Lee. Lee leaves Whitney, leaving a note saying he no longer loves her, but Mick persuades him to explain to her his reasons before going. With Babe missing, Mick no is no longer required to pay her share of the fine, however, realising that Mick cannot pay the fine as well as other debts, including bills for the repair of leaks in the pub, Shirley decides to put the blame for the licence break on herself. As the fine is unpaid, Shirley is jailed and subsequently charged with perverting the cause of justice, which increases her sentence from six weeks to three months. A few days later, Ian's wife,

Jane Beale Lesley Jane Beale (also Clarke and Collins) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, ''EastEnders'', played by Laurie Brett. She made her first appearance on 22 June 2004. Brett took maternity leave in 2011 and departed on 19 May. Sh ...

(

Laurie Brett Laurie Brett (born 28 March 1969) is a Scottish actress, best known for her roles as Jane Beale in the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'' and Christine Mulgrew in the BBC One school-based drama series '' Waterloo Road''. Early and personal life ...

) calls Linda, worried about Mick. Linda returns the following day and Mick informs her of Lee's departure and the debts he has left. Linda initially blames Whitney and an argument ensues, causing Whitney to storm out. Mick explains to Linda that it was Lee's fault, causing another argument between the two although they later make up and have sex. After a heart-to-heart with Whitney, Linda decides to return to Elaine, which angers Mick as Linda saw the state he was in and left anyway. Soon after Linda's departure, Mick receives a phone call from Tamwar saying that Nancy has been critically injured after being hit by a car while backpacking in Bulgaria. He immediately leaves Walford and flies to Bulgaria to be with her. In Mick's absence, Linda hires a new bar manager,

Woody Woodward William Frederick "Woody" Woodward (born September 23, 1942) is an American former professional baseball player, college baseball coach, and general manager. He played in Major League Baseball, primarily as a shortstop from 1963 to 1971 for the ...

(

Lee Ryan Lee Ryan (born 17 June 1983) is an English singer, songwriter and actor, best known as a member of the boy band Blue. Ryan took part in the BBC series '' Strictly Come Dancing''. He was partnered with professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova and was ...

) and agrees with Shirley to sell The Queen Vic's freehold in order to solve their financial problems. Mick returns and walks in on Whitney and Woody in bed after having sex. He then punches Woody and throws him out. He later learns that Shirley and Linda sold the freehold of The Queen Vic behind his back and forged his signature, and turns to alcohol to deal with the stress. He also learns that

Max Branning Max Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Jake Wood. He made his first appearance on 27 June 2006. Wood took a four-month break from the show in 2011 and the character was absent between August and Nov ...

(

Jake Wood Jake Dylan Wood (born 12 July 1972) is an English actor and podcaster, known for his role as Max Branning in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. He has also made guest appearances in series including ''Only Fools and Horses'' and ''Red Dwarf''. ...

) set up the deal, and confronts him, branding him a snake and warning him to stay away from him. He then kisses a vulnerable Whitney who responds. Shirley learns of the kiss and tells Whitney to pack her bags and leave. When Mick learns that Shirley did this, he drunkenly throws a glass at her, but instantly regrets it and cries, saying he no longer knows himself. Mick tells Linda about the kiss on her return but is then left devastated when she tells him their relationship is over. Later, Linda agrees to give Mick another chance but when her admits he made a failed attempt to pay Whitney off with £200, Linda slaps him. Following a reconciliation and a holiday, Mick discovers Linda had cancer and did not tell him, so he leaves her. However, they get back together the following day. The freeholders of the pub, Grafton Hill, demand £60,000 for structural repairs, saying they will be evicted if they do not pay. Business consultant Fi Browning (

Lisa Faulkner Lisa Tamsin Faulkner (born 19 February 1972) is an actress, presenter and celebrity chef. Early life Faulkner was born in Merton, London, to David Faulkner and Julie (née Day). She lived in Esher and was educated at Tiffin Girls' School in ...

) tells them she has reduced it to £50,000, which they manage to raise. However,

James Willmott-Brown James Willmott-Brown (also credited as Willmott-Brown and Mr Willmott-Brown) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', played by William Boyde. The character originally appeared in Albert Square from 1986 to 1989, where ...

(

William Boyde William Boyde (born March 1953) is a British actor, best known for his work on the British soap opera ''EastEnders'' (1986–1989, 1992, 2017). He was educated at Cheltenham College where he appeared as an extra in the film If...which was filme ...

) claims to own the pub, and Fi, his daughter, denies reducing the debt; the family are given a month to leave the pub. They tell James they will take the company to court, but James reveals that he knows Mick's signature was forged on the paperwork, so the Carters start looking for a new home. Mick turns down a pub in

Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford-upon-Avon (), commonly known as just Stratford, is a market town and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district, in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It is situated on the River Avon, north-we ...

after meeting

Aidan Maguire The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' in 2017, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's executive producer Sean O'Connor or, from 27 November, his succ ...

(

Patrick Bergin Patrick Connolly Bergin (born 4 February 1951) is an Irish actor and singer perhaps best known for his leading role opposite Julia Roberts in ''Sleeping with the Enemy'' (1991), the title character in Robin Hood (1991 film), terrorist Kevin O ...

), who is arranging a robbery and he manipulates Mick into joining his team, along with Phil,

Vincent Hubbard Vincent Hubbard is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Richard Blackwood. He was introduced by executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins during the show's 30th anniversary celebrations, and was later reve ...

(

Richard Blackwood Richard Clifford Blackwood (born 15 May 1972) is a British actor, presenter and rapper. Between 2015 and 2018, he played Vincent Hubbard in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. In 2020, he began portraying the role of Felix Westwood in the Channel ...

) and

Keanu Taylor The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'' in 2017, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's executive producer Sean O'Connor or, from 27 November, his succ ...

( Danny Walters). Mick is shot in the arm by

Callum "Halfway" Highway Callum "Halfway" Highway is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Tony Clay. He was introduced in the episode first broadcast in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2018. Callum is introduced as a friend of the Car ...

(Tony Clay) during the heist and is treated by

Mariam Ahmed The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'' in 2018, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's executive consultant, John Yorke. Madhav Sharma and Indira Josh ...

(Indira Joshi). Mick recovers, but the money they stole then goes missing. Halfway, who is an army friend of Lee's, moves into The Queen Vic, and the Carters are able to buy back the pub from Fi when Halfway gives them a ring he stole during the heist that is worth £200,000. This causes Aidan to suspect Mick of stealing the money, so he has a drug dealer start dealing from the Vic's toilets. When Mick tries to stop this, Aidan threatens to take The Queen Vic from them, as he has already taken The Albert bar from Vincent, and also threatens to hurt Johnny, who has moved away, and Nancy. Linda has the drug dealer arrested so Aidan threatens to have Mick killed.

Mel Owen Melanie "Mel" Owen (also Healy and Beale) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', played by Tamzin Outhwaite. Mel was introduced by executive producer Matthew Robinson and made her first appearance on 19 October 1998 ...

(

Tamzin Outhwaite Tamzin Maria Outhwaite (; born 5 November 1970) is an English actress, presenter and narrator. Since playing the role of Mel Owen in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', she has starred in a number of theatre and television productions, including ...

) gives Mick the number of a hitman, and when Mick discovers Aidan has covered The Queen Vic hallway as well as Ollie in petrol, the Carters agree to contact him to get rid of Aidan, but Linda stops it. The Carters then prepare to leave for Watford but Mick returns to The Queen Vic at the last minute to confront Aidan. He stands up to Aidan but Aidan beats him with his cane. He's stopped when

Jack Branning Jack Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Scott Maslen. He made his first appearance on 29 October 2007. He is the youngest child of Jim (John Bardon) and Reenie Branning (Joy Graham) and the brother ...

(

Scott Maslen Scott Alexander Maslen (born 25 June 1971) is an English actor and model, best known for his portrayal as DS Phil Hunter in ITV's ''The Bill'' and Jack Branning on the BBC's flagship soap ''EastEnders'' since 2007. He also took part in the 2010 ...

), Billy, Linda, Shirley and Ted barge in and stop him. Aidan calls on his henchman and he threatens to set the pub on fire unless Mick makes an apology. He's forced to say sorry and Aidan leaves but gets punched by Phil and is warned off by Phil's knowledge that Aidan murdered

Luke Browning Luke Browning (born 31 January 2002) is a British racing driver, he is the current GB3 Championship Champion driving for Hitech Grand Prix. He was also the champion of the 2020 F4 British Championship with Fortec Motorsports. Career Junior ...

(Adam Astill), giving back the Carters control of The Queen Vic. Mick's childhood friend and Halfway's brother,

Stuart Highway Stuart Highway is a major Australia, Australian highway. It runs from Darwin, Northern Territory, Darwin, in the Northern Territory, via Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, to Port Augusta in South Australia; a distance of . Its northern and sou ...

(

Ricky Champ Ricky Champ (born 1 July 1980) is an English actor. He is known for his roles as Paul Parker in the BBC Three sitcom ''Him & Her'', and Stuart Highway in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. Champ has also appeared in ''Crims'', ''Plebs'', and th ...

), arrives in Walford but Linda dislikes him. Mick tells Linda that Stuart went to a Young Offender Institute after covering for something Mick did when they were 13 and Linda has to accept their friendship. When Shakil Kazemi (

Shaheen Jafargholi Shaheen Jafargholi ( fa, شاهین جعفرقلی; born 23 January 1997) is a Welsh actor and singer. In 2009, he finished in seventh place on the ITV competition series ''Britain's Got Talent''. Since then, he has portrayed the roles of Shak ...

) is stabbed, Mick fails to realise he needs help so is devastated when he dies and blames himself. Mick sees pictures of and messages to schoolgirls on Stuart's phone and confronts Stuart, who says he has done nothing wrong, but Mick reports him to the police. Stuart explains that he poses as underage girls online to expose paedophiles and the police know about it. Stuart enlists Mick's help in confronting paedophiles, and Stuart reveals that he suffered sexual abuse from an officer when he was in the Young Offender Institute. Mick says Stuart should track the man down, but Stuart wants to protect girls from abuse now. Mick agrees to help but the confrontation goes wrong, but it emerges that the man is Stuart's friend and they were testing Mick. Mick is humiliated and Stuart says Mick cannot handle it and adds that he saved Mick from abuse by taking the blame for what Mick did when they were teenagers and calls Mick a coward. Mick and Stuart then have a physical fight. Stuart asks Halfway to help to confront someone but Mick urges Halfway not to go and joins them when he sees Halfway leaving. Stuart asks Halfway to confront the man,

Fred Lewis Frederick Deshaun Lewis (born December 9, 1980) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He made his debut on September 1, , with the San Francisco Giants. He is the cousin of former Major League outfielder Matt Lawton. He lived i ...

, but Mick tries to stop him and the commotion causes Fred to run. Mick and Halfway follow Fred on the tube and Mick concludes that Stuart has made a mistake and Fred is not a paedophile. He tells Stuart this, but Stuart posts the confrontation video regardless. After Fred is assaulted and hospitalised, Mick gives Stuart an alibi but the police explain that Fred was trying to track down his daughter online. Stuart and Mick fight again and Stuart insists he is right about Fred. Mick tells Stuart to post a retraction video, which Stuart does but he believes that Mick needs to be hurt in the same way Stuart was in the Young Offender Institute. Stuart shoots himself and frames Mick, who is arrested and remanded. Linda starts to believe that Mick shot Stuart, ejects Tina from The Queen Vic, allows Stuart to move in and calls a solicitor to initiate divorce proceedings. However, this is actually part of Linda's secret plan to help get Mick out of prison. Linda records Stuart admitting that Mick did not shoot him and he is released from prison. Mick takes Stuart to an abandoned factory where he vows to kill him. Mick is diagnosed as suffering from panic attacks and both Mick and Linda struggle with Ollie's autism diagnosis. Linda develops an alcohol problem, and despite Mick's several attempts to get her to stop drinking, she does not stop. He suggests that her behaviour is affecting Ollie, to which Linda responds by filing for a divorce, and she expresses an interest in getting full custody of Ollie. Mick agrees to the divorce, but the pair go back on their decision when they have a near-death experience in a boat accident. They agree to sell the Queen Vic in order to combat Linda's alcoholism, and find new jobs elsewhere. Mick begins to worry when he finds photos of the Carter family on

Frankie Lewis The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the British soap opera ''EastEnders'' in 2020, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's senior executive producer, Kate Oates, and the executive prod ...

' (

Rose Ayling-Ellis Rose Lucinda Ayling-Ellis (born 17 November 1994) is an English actress. Deaf since birth, she is a British Sign Language user. She is best known for playing the role of Frankie Lewis in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'' (2020–2022). In 2 ...

) camera, and quizzes her about it. Frankie reveals that she believes she is Mick's daughter, and states that Katy Lewis (

Simone Lahbib Simone Nicole Jean Lahbib Ould Cheikl (; born 6 February 1965) is a Scottish actress. She is known for her roles as Helen Stewart in the ITV drama series '' Bad Girls'', DCI Alex Fielding in the ITV crime series ''Wire in the Blood'' and Katy L ...

) is her mother. Katy is later revealed to be Mick's former social worker, who was twenty when involved with Mick, then aged twelve. Mick states that he pursued the relationship with Katy, but Frankie refuses to listen, stating that he is a victim of abuse. He is unable to confide in Linda, who genuinely thinks he no longer loves her and starts an

affair An affair is a sexual relationship, romantic friendship, or passionate attachment in which at least one of its participants has a formal or informal commitment to a third person who may neither agree to such relationship nor even be aware of i ...

with

Max Branning Max Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Jake Wood. He made his first appearance on 27 June 2006. Wood took a four-month break from the show in 2011 and the character was absent between August and Nov ...

(

Jake Wood Jake Dylan Wood (born 12 July 1972) is an English actor and podcaster, known for his role as Max Branning in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. He has also made guest appearances in series including ''Only Fools and Horses'' and ''Red Dwarf''. ...

). Katy convinces Mick that what he remembers did not happen but he starts suffering flashbacks. He feels suicidal and calls

The Samaritans Samaritans is a registered charitable organisation, charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, often through ...

while contemplating jumping from the rooftop of

The Queen Vic The Queen Victoria (more often referred to as The Queen Vic or The Vic) is the Victorian public house in the BBC soap opera, '' EastEnders''. It has the fictional address of 46 Albert Square, Walford, London E20. Appearance and developme ...

. He then confides in Linda, who helps him come to understand that Katy did sexually abuse him. She apologises for her affair with Max and the couple reconcile. Katy is later arrested and stands trial for abusing Mick and is sentenced to ten years imprisonment. Hoping to win Linda back, Max blackmails Sharon into selling the Queen Vic back to the Carters. Linda stands by Mick and Max leaves for New Zealand; soon after his departure, Linda reveals to Mick that she is pregnant but Max is the father. Wanting to keep Max away from Walford, Mick agrees to raise the baby as his own. Nancy returns to Walford following the breakdown of her marriage and Mick helps her bond with Frankie. He disapproves when Nancy begins a relationship with Zack Hudson (James Farrar). Several of Mick and Linda's neighbours become suspicious of her pregnancy timings, including Max's ex-wife Rainie. She tries to expose the paternity of Linda's baby, hoping to lure Max back to Walford so she can be reunited with his granddaughter Abi. Linda gives birth to a daughter,

Annie Annie may refer to: People and fictional characters * Annie (given name), a given name and a list of people and fictional characters with the name * Annie (actress) (born 1975), Indian actress * Annie (singer) (born 1977), Norwegian singer The ...

, and leaves Walford with Mick soon after in fear that Rainie will bring Max back to Walford. Mick returns to Walford weeks later, leaving Linda and Annie with Elaine in Watford. New bar manager

Janine Butcher Janine Carter (also Butcher, Evans and Malloy) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', introduced in 1989. The character was played by Rebecca Michael from 1989 to 1993, Alexia Demetriou from 1993 to 1996, and Charlie ...

(

Charlie Brooks Charlene Emma Brooks (born 3 May 1981) is a British actress. Known for the role of Janine Butcher in the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'', she has received numerous awards since her first appearance on the soap in 1999, with storylines invo ...

) falls for Mick and comes to live at the Vic when she's made homeless. Mick encourages her to bond with her estranged daughter Scarlett (Tabitha Byron). Janine kisses Mick but he initially rejects her and tells her to move out because his heart is with Linda. He invites Linda to attend a New Year's Eve party at the Vic, but Janine manipulates events so Linda believes Mick does not want her to return. Mick later learns Linda has fallen off the wagon once again and she leaves him a voicemail demanding a divorce. After a few months, Janine moves in with Mick and they begin dating, eventually leading to them becoming engaged and Janine becoming pregnant with Mick’s child. Janine’s brother

Ricky Ricky may refer to: Places *Říčky (Brno-Country District), a village and municipality in the Czech Republic *Říčky v Orlických horách, a village in the north of the Czech Republic * Rickmansworth, a town in England sometimes called "Ricky" ...

(

Sid Owen Sid Owen (born David Sutton; 12 January 1972) is an English actor, television presenter and former singer, who played Ricky Butcher in the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'' on and off since 1988. He also appeared in the tenth series of ''Strict ...

) returns to Walford to support his sister. After bonding with Ricky, Mick persuades his ex-wife Sam Mitchell (

Kim Medcalf Kim Louise Medcalf (born 8 December 1973) is an English actress and singer. She is best known for taking over the role of Sam Mitchell in the long-running BBC soap opera, ''EastEnders'', between 2002 and 2005 and from 2022 onwards. Career '' ...

) to go on a date with him and she later agrees to accompany him to Mick and Janine’s wedding. Mick then marries Janine but shortly ends it after learning about Janine manipulating him and the revelations of her setting up Linda following putting her in the driving seat of a car Janine was driving and also playing a role in Annie being taken away briefly by social services. Mick rekindles his relationship with Linda and confesses he has loved her all along. They both agree to try again after Mick forces Janine out. Janine escapes and gets in a car down to Dover to catch a ferry to escape the police. Janine is followed by Mick and Linda who want to bring her to justice. As Janine drives to Dover, she confronts and hurts Mick and drives off whilst Linda quickly follows and ends up in the car too, attempting to stop Janine. The car is steered off the road towards the cliff. After the car falls off the cliff and into the sea, Mick later jumps in to save Janine and their unborn baby at Linda's plea. Mick runs back to save Linda but is unaware that she escaped the car and managed to make it onshore. Mick dives back into the sea heading for the car, but does not resurface, and is presumed dead.

Development

Casting and introduction

On 1 October 2013, it was announced that

Danny Dyer Danial John Dyer (born 24 July 1977) is an English actor and presenter. Dyer's breakthrough role was as Moff in ''Human Traffic'', with other notable roles as Mick Carter in EastEnders, Billy the Limpet in '' Mean Machine'' and as Tommy Johns ...

had been cast in the role of Mick Carter, the younger brother of

Shirley Carter Shirley Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Linda Henry. She first appeared on 7 December 2006, during episodes set in Dorset. This is Henry's second role in ''EastEnders'', as she previously played ...

(

Linda Henry Linda Varilis (''née'' Henry; born 24 August 1959) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Yvonne Atkins in the ITV drama '' Bad Girls'' and Shirley Carter in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', a role she has played since 2006. S ...

), who joined ''EastEnders'' in 2006, and Tina Carter (

Luisa Bradshaw-White Luisa Bradshaw-White (born 9 December 1974) is a former English actress, known for playing Tina Carter in '' EastEnders'' and for her previous roles on '' Bad Girls'', '' Holby City'' and ''This Life''. She has also made appearances in televisi ...

), whose casting was announced 12 days earlier. Dyer was asked to be in ''EastEnders'', and said that production staff "told me how brilliant I was" and "I felt really honoured", but he said he "thought long and hard" about accepting the role, doing so because it was "at the right time in my career." He also said he accepted the role because it was not "too obvious" and would be a double act with Mick's wife

Linda Carter Linda Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Kellie Bright. She first appeared on 19 December 2013 and her casting was announced alongside her on-screen partner, Mick Carter ( Danny Dyer). Linda was ...

, saying, "it was a big deciding factor when they

aid In international relations, aid (also known as international aid, overseas aid, foreign aid, economic aid or foreign assistance) is – from the perspective of governments – a voluntary transfer of resources from one country to another. Ai ...

that my screen wife Linda was going to be played by

Kellie Bright Kellie Denise Bright (born 1 July 1976) is an English actress. Her roles include Linda Carter in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', for which she won the 2015 British Soap Award for Best Actress and Best Dramatic Performance, Julie in ''Ali G I ...

." He began filming later in October, along with Bright. The character was to be the new landlord of the "iconic"

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

public house (also known as The Vic), appearing from Christmas Day, 25 December 2013. The Carters are the first new family to join the series and immediately take over the pub, and it was said that the family would become "a new ''EastEnders'' dynasty."

Dominic Treadwell-Collins Dominic Treadwell-Collins (born 26 August 1977) is a British television producer, known for his work on the soap operas ''Family Affairs'' and ''EastEnders'', creating the ''EastEnders'' spin-off series ''Kat & Alfie: Redwater'' and Executive Pr ...

was appointed executive producer of ''EastEnders'' in August 2013, but in December 2013, he said that Mick and Linda "were in my head about a year and a half ago", adding that they are influenced by his own parents. For Mick's announcement, Treadwell-Collins said: "I'm so excited to have actors of Danny and Kellie's calibre joining what is an already strong and talented company of actors." Dyer said at the time of the announcement, "I am so excited about starting a new chapter in my career and cannot wait to become part of the East End family." Later in the same month, Dyer said that becoming the new pub landlord was "like the perfect marriage. To take over The Queen Vic on Christmas Day, to be on primetime TV on the BBC's flagship show... I want to show people what I can do." Dyer said that he was not nervous joining ''EastEnders'', but that he was excited and "can't wait for everyone to see me in the Vic". The programme had suffered falling ratings in 2013, and Dyer told ''

Inside Soap ''Inside Soap'' is a weekly magazine published in the United Kingdom, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas in the United Kingdom, including '' Coronation Street'', ''Doctors'', ''EastEnders'', ''Emmerdal ...

'' that he wanted to "help turn ''EastEnders'' around". When asked by ''

Heat In thermodynamics, heat is defined as the form of energy crossing the boundary of a thermodynamic system by virtue of a temperature difference across the boundary. A thermodynamic system does not ''contain'' heat. Nevertheless, the term is al ...

'' if he would be "the saviour" of ''EastEnders'', he said that he would, and said, "a lot of people were excited about me going to ''EastEnders'' utthere's a lot of people who want to see me fail", adding that it was a risk that "could work or couldn't work". Controller of

BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, p ...

, Charlotte Moore, said in December 2013 that Dyer "is an extraordinary presence on the set of ''EastEnders''—it's very exciting. He's just a big, big character and bringing him into the Vic is going to change a lot of the dynamics of ''EastEnders''".

Shane Richie Shane Patrick Paul Roche (born 11 March 1964), known as Shane Richie, is a British actor, comedian, television presenter and singer. Following initial success as a stage and screen performer, he became best known for his portrayal of the charac ...

, who plays previous landlord

Alfie Moon Alfie Moon is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Shane Richie. He made his first appearance on 21 November 2002, and left on 25 December 2005. He returned to ''EastEnders'' on 21 September 2010, following th ...

, said Mick and the rest of the Carters would "change the dynamics of the Queen Vic", confirming that their arrival was "the big Christmas storyline". Other members of the ''EastEnders'' cast, including

Rita Simons Rita Joanne Simons (born 10 March 1977) is an English actress and singer from London. She is best known for playing Roxy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 2007 to 2017, when her character was killed-off, alongside her on screen ...

(

Roxy Mitchell Roxanne "Roxy" Mitchell (also Slater) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, ''EastEnders'', portrayed by Rita Simons.Jake Wood Jake Dylan Wood (born 12 July 1972) is an English actor and podcaster, known for his role as Max Branning in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. He has also made guest appearances in series including ''Only Fools and Horses'' and ''Red Dwarf''. ...

(

Max Branning Max Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Jake Wood. He made his first appearance on 27 June 2006. Wood took a four-month break from the show in 2011 and the character was absent between August and Nov ...

),

Jacqueline Jossa Jacqueline Mary Osborne (''née'' Jossa) (born 29 October 1992) is an English actress and television presenter. She is known for portraying Lauren Branning in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 2010 to 2022, and winning the nineteenth ser ...

(

Lauren Branning Lauren Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. The role was originated by Madeline Duggan, who first appeared on 3 July 2006. Duggan played the role for four years until her exit on 23 June 2010. Three months l ...

) and

Adam Woodyatt Adam Brinley Woodyatt (born 28 June 1968) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Ian Beale in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', which he played between 1985 and 2022. Early life and education Woodyatt was born on 28 June 1968 in W ...

(

Ian Beale Ian Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Adam Woodyatt. He is the drama's longest-serving main character and, following the departure of Pauline Fowler ( Wendy Richard) in 2006, became the only one ...

), welcomed Dyer to the cast via social networking website Twitter.

Jamie Lomas James Lomas (born 21 April 1975) is an English actor, known for his soap opera roles as Warren Fox in ''Hollyoaks'' and Jake Stone in ''EastEnders''. Life and career Lomas was born in Manchester. Before joining ''Hollyoaks'' in 2006, he had m ...

, who plays

Jake Stone Jake Stone is the name of: *Jake Stone (singer) Bluejuice was an Australian band based in Sydney, active between 2000 and 2014. The group's final line-up consisted of lead vocalist Jake Stone, backing vocalist Stavros Yiannoukas, bassist Jami ...

, said he was "absolutely made up" that Dyer was joining the show, while

Samantha Womack Samantha Zoe Womack (''Birth name, née'' Janus; born 2 November 1972) is an English actress, singer, model and director who has worked in film, television and stage. Womack initially planned a career in singing and she represented the Unite ...

(

Ronnie Mitchell Veronica "Ronnie" Branning (also Mitchell) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, ''EastEnders'', played by Samantha Womack. She and her younger sister Roxy Mitchell (played by Rita Simons) were introduced by executive producer Dieder ...

) said she "can't wait to see impulling pints at the Vic" Womack later said Dyer's casting was a "bold move" by Treadwell-Collins, opining that this was "exactly what the show needs", adding "we need proper East End characters, we need larger than life personalities. yer'sa fantastic actor but he's also incredibly charismatic."

Shona McGarty Shona McGarty (born 14 October 1991) is an English actress and singer who portrays Whitney Dean in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. Career Before joining ''EastEnders'', McGarty had been involved in amateur musical theatre for six years, in ...

, who plays

Whitney Dean Whitney Dean (also Carter) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Shona McGarty. The character is the ward of long-running character Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and was introduced on 1 April 2008 when Pal ...

, said she "can't wait to work with Danny Dyer. I have an inkling that Whitney will have some scenes with the Carters. I've been chatting with Danny on Twitter, and he's such a legend." Dyer took to Twitter to thank people for their support, stating that "my dreams have come true". Dyer, who is from East London where ''EastEnders'' is set, had previously been offered a role in the soap in 2009, but turned it down, fearing the level of publicity it would bring. He also said he turned down a 10-episode role in ''EastEnders'' because it was an "obvious gangster bully" who would be "blown up by

Phil Mitchell Phil Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Steve McFadden. He was introduced to the soap opera on 20 February 1990 and was followed by his brother Grant Mitchell (EastEnders), Grant (Ross Kemp), s ...

". Dyer also revealed that he was approached to play

Carl White Carl White is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Daniel Coonan. He first appears in the 4660th episode, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 20 June 2013. Carl is the ex-boyfriend of Kirsty Brannin ...

, but turned it down. He said, "if I'd gone down that route, then I wouldn't be playing the role I am now." Richie, experienced at playing a landlord in the show, mentored Dyer and helped him on the pub set because he "couldn't even open the f***ing till". He was also trained in how to use a

beer engine A beer engine is a device for pumping beer from a cask, usually located in a pub's cellar. The beer engine was invented by John Lofting, a Dutch inventor, merchant and manufacturer who moved from Amsterdam to London in about 1688 and patented ...

. After Dyer had been filming for a month, he stated that he was "bringing something to soap land that's never been seen before" and said that taking over The Queen Victoria was "a big responsibility" that he was ready for, adding "I don't want to let them down". He said that his character's entrance to the show was "flawless, but it's not going to be what you expect", and felt that he would have the same impact as original landlord

Den Watts Dennis "Den" Watts is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', played by actor Leslie Grantham. He became well known for his tabloid nickname, "Dirty Den". Den was the original landlord of The Queen Victoria public house ...

(

Leslie Grantham Leslie Michael Grantham (30 April 1947 – 15 June 2018) was an English actor, best known for his role as "Dirty" Den Watts in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. He was a convicted murderer, having served 10 years for the killing of a West Germ ...

). He also thought that his role would be controversial, because of the baggage that comes with him as an actor. ''Inside Soap'' said that the success of Mick, the Carter family and the pub all rest on Dyer's shoulders, of which Dyer said put pressure on him but he added that "there ''should'' be pressure coming into a show like this. I didn't want to come in as some peripheral character". He hoped that people would find Mick believable and loveable. Three "sting" trailers for Christmas in ''EastEnders'' were released on 5 December 2013, one showing Dyer's face and the caption "It's all about to change". Two pictures from Dyer's first episode were also released on 5 December, one showing Mick and members of his family outside The Queen Victoria, and the other showing Mick holding open the pub's doors. Further pictures from Dyer's first episodes and more promotional shots were released on 7 December. A 45-second trailer for the Christmas 2013 storylines was released on 10 December, showing Dyer in his role.

Characterisation and appearance

Mick was described by the BBC as a patriotic family man, who is a "big softie" after spending most of his life around women. He was called a "bloke's bloke" and "kind hearted". Dyer said that Mick is in touch with his feminine side, and is "the alpha male of the show without being a bully", and said it was "not in an obvious way". He felt it was important that Mick was a family man, and called him a "grafter". He called him a "normal guy" who is protective of his family. When he appeared on ITV panel show ''

Celebrity Juice ''Celebrity Juice'' is a British television comedy panel game on ITV2, broadcast since 24 September 2008. The show is written and presented by Leigh Francis in the role of his alter ego Keith Lemon, and its current team captains Laura Whitmore ...

'', he described Mick as "a lovely fella" who is "not a villain." He said that Mick would be a "completely different landlord" to Alfie, and said the character has "a bit of rankButcher about im. ''

All About Soap ''All About Soap'' was a fortnightly UK magazine founded in October 1999. It was released on Tuesdays. Storylines of the shows it covers are from soap operas shown in the United Kingdom and from Australia, including '' EastEnders'', '' Coron ...

'' stated that he was "no bad boy". Shane Richie said that Mick is "not the hardman, but there is an element of that just underneath". ''Inside Soap'' said that Mick's battles are only verbal. They reported that Mick is enthusiastic about running his pub and has a "proper, old-school

cockney Cockney is an accent and dialect of English, mainly spoken in London and its environs, particularly by working-class and lower middle-class Londoners. The term "Cockney" has traditionally been used to describe a person from the East End, or b ...

attitude". Dyer said that he wanted viewers to be confused by Mick's use of

cockney rhyming slang Rhyming slang is a form of slang word construction in the English language. It is especially prevalent among Cockneys in England, and was first used in the early 19th century in the East End of London; hence its alternative name, Cockney rhymin ...

and wanted to get as much "cockney-ness" into the role as he could. He said that his own use of slang was sometimes "too out there" for the show but he had tried to stop it being taken out. With the publication of the first photo of the entire Carter family together, ''

Heat In thermodynamics, heat is defined as the form of energy crossing the boundary of a thermodynamic system by virtue of a temperature difference across the boundary. A thermodynamic system does not ''contain'' heat. Nevertheless, the term is al ...

'' Olivia Cooke said she loves "the excellent way that Danny's character has been styled", adding that he looks "hot". Kirsty McCormack from the ''

Daily Express The ''Daily Express'' is a national daily United Kingdom middle-market newspaper printed in tabloid format. Published in London, it is the flagship of Express Newspapers, owned by publisher Reach plc. It was first published as a broadsheet i ...

'' said Dyer "looks like the ultimate East End hard man". Claire Hodgson from the ''Daily Mirror'' said Dyer was "making a poor attempt at looking harder than his dog", while '' The List'' said that in the photo, Dyer looks "smug and hard-nosed". ''

Hello ''Hello'' is a salutation or greeting in the English language. It is first attested in writing from 1826. Early uses ''Hello'', with that spelling, was used in publications in the U.S. as early as the 18 October 1826 edition of the ''Norwich C ...

'' thought Mick and the rest of his family look like "they're going to cause a stir". Mick wears a

Pea coat A pea coat (or peacoat, pea jacket, pilot jacket, reefer jacket) is an outer coat, generally of a Navy blue, navy-coloured heavy wool, originally worn by sailors of European and later American navy, navies. Pea coats are characterized by short le ...

and

ASOS.com ASOS plc ( ) is a British online fashion and cosmetic retailer. The company was founded in 2000 in London, primarily aimed at young adults. The website sells over 850 brands as well as its own range of clothing and accessories, and ships to al ...

said he "looks like he might be the most stylish landlord of the Vic ever."

Family relationships

Upon the character's announcement, Treadwell-Collins explained that in their fictional backstory, Mick and Linda have been married for over twenty years, and have been together since they were teenagers. ''

Hello ''Hello'' is a salutation or greeting in the English language. It is first attested in writing from 1826. Early uses ''Hello'', with that spelling, was used in publications in the U.S. as early as the 18 October 1826 edition of the ''Norwich C ...

'' called them "childhood sweethearts". They were called "a tight family unit", and Treadwell-Collins said they have a "good marriage" and "an easy shorthand with each other—but can also still fight like teenagers." He said that the characters would laugh, cry, argue and make up, which would embarrass their children, but would delight their neighbours. It was said that the couple "still love each other, no matter what life throws at them", and that after moving to the fictional setting of

Walford Walford is a fictional borough of east London in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. It is the primary setting for the soap. ''EastEnders'' is filmed at Borehamwood in Hertfordshire, towards the north-west of London. Much of the location work i ...

from

Watford Watford () is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, 15 miles northwest of Central London, on the River Colne. Initially a small market town, the Grand Junction Canal encouraged the construction of paper-making mills, print works, a ...

, "life's about to throw them a few curve balls." ''Inside'' Soap said that Mick and Linda have a passionate relationship and adore each other. Bright explained that Mick and Linda have grown up together, and said: "It's a weird thing when you've known someone your whole life—you're more than just husband and wife. You're something else." She later said that Mick and Linda have known each other since they were five or six years old, and can finish each other's sentences and know how the other is feeling by the look on their face. Dyer and Bright both said that Mick and Linda are passionate and lustful, with Bright saying they are "madly in love" and describing a "real fizz between them". She said, "they're kind of tearing each other's heads off or tearing each other's clothes off." Dyer said there is a "Den and Angie

atts A differential is a gear train with three drive shafts that has the property that the rotational speed of one shaft is the average of the speeds of the others, or a fixed multiple of that average. Functional description The following descri ...

feel" to the relationship. Jane Simon from the ''

Daily Mirror The ''Daily Mirror'' is a British national daily tabloid. Founded in 1903, it is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the title on its masthead was simply ''The Mirror''. It had an average daily print ...

'' said that the fact Mick and Linda are happily married is a "rare thing in soapland". However, in July 2014, it was revealed in storylines that Mick and Linda are not married, yet all their families believes they are, a fact that left Carena Crawford from ''

All About Soap ''All About Soap'' was a fortnightly UK magazine founded in October 1999. It was released on Tuesdays. Storylines of the shows it covers are from soap operas shown in the United Kingdom and from Australia, including '' EastEnders'', '' Coron ...

'' wondering why they never got married and why they kept this a secret, but she hoped for a big wedding. It was said that Mick is the youngest of three Carter siblings, and has always adored Shirley, who brought him and Tina up when they were children after their mother walked out, but Shirley and Mick were estranged for many years because Shirley and Linda did not like each other. It was later revealed that Mick has not spoken to Shirley because she caused an accident that burnt down Mick and Linda's pub 15 years previously. Dyer said that Mick is always in the middle of Linda and Shirley's arguments. He explained that Mick's reason for coming to Walford is to be close to Shirley and Tina, because "Mick has been out of his sisters' lives for far too long and this is his call to bring the family together. He's missed them terribly." Two of Mick and Linda's children,

Johnny Johnny is an English language personal name. It is usually an affectionate diminutive of the masculine given name John, but from the 16th century it has sometimes been a given name in its own right for males and, less commonly, females. Varian ...

and Nancy, were announced on 29 October 2013, with

Sam Strike Samuel Harry Strike (born 18 January 1994) is an English actor. Life and career Strike was born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. He starred in two revival series of CBBC's ''M.I. High'' as Dan Morgan from 2013–2014. In 2014, Strike guest starred ...

and

Maddy Hill Madeleine Kate Hayley Hill (born 19 March 1990) is an English actress, known for her roles as Nancy Carter in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' and Ruby Spark in the BBC medical drama ''Casualty''. Career Hill trained at Rose Bruford College d ...

taking on the roles, and the first photo of the whole family of Mick, Linda, Johnny, Nancy, Shirley, Tina and the dog, was released. It was also revealed that Mick and Linda have a third child, Lee, who is a soldier in

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...

. Treadwell-Collins released a statement saying: "My team have worked incredibly hard over the past few months to create the Carters—a contemporary British family with cracks, knocked edges and a touch of darkness that is going to make them very special to watch. A family of strong characters who love and hate each other, all rooted in the best traditions of ''EastEnders''. Starting with Shirley, the Carters are slowly going to creep into Albert Square as Christmas approaches and by New Year, there will be a new vibrant ''EastEnders'' clan, firmly ensconced in the Queen Vic. Watch out Walford, The Carters are coming!" Dyer said that Mick is protective of Nancy and does not think her fiancé, Wayne Ladlow (Malachi Kirby), is good enough for her. Further details of the family's dog were revealed on 10 November. The dog is called Lady Di, named after

Diana, Princess of Wales Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and mother of Princes William and Harry. Her ac ...

. ''

Inside Soap ''Inside Soap'' is a weekly magazine published in the United Kingdom, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas in the United Kingdom, including '' Coronation Street'', ''Doctors'', ''EastEnders'', ''Emmerdal ...

'' reported that Lady Di is "the apple of ..Mick's eye", would help show a softer side to his character, and adds credence to his patriotism. Mick's grandfather (originally thought to be his father),

Stan Carter Stan Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', portrayed by Timothy West. He first appeared in the show's 4,793rd episode, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 27 January 2014, and was introduced as the f ...

, played by

Timothy West Timothy Lancaster West, CBE (born 20 October 1934) is an English actor and presenter. He has appeared frequently on both stage and television, including stints in both ''Coronation Street'' (as Eric Babbage) and ''EastEnders'' (as Stan Carter) ...

, and maternal great aunt (originally thought to be his aunt),

Babe Smith Babe Smith (also known as Aunt Babe) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', portrayed by Annette Badland. She first appeared in episode 4796 of the show, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 31 January 2014, ...

, played by

Annette Badland Annette Badland (born 26 August 1950) is an English actress known for a wide range of roles on television, radio, stage, and film. She is best known for her roles as Margaret Blaine in the BBC science fiction series ''Doctor Who'', Mrs. Glen ...

, were announced on 12 December 2013, and the casting of Lee was announced in January 2014, with Danny-Boy Hatchard taking on the role. It was said that Lee was "a chip off his father's block". Dyer said that Mick and Stan have "a bit of a mad relationship."

Other relationships and storylines

Mick buys the pub from

Phil Mitchell Phil Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Steve McFadden. He was introduced to the soap opera on 20 February 1990 and was followed by his brother Grant Mitchell (EastEnders), Grant (Ross Kemp), s ...

, who does not know he is related to Shirley, which ''Inside Soap'' said "causes conflict". Richie said that his character, Alfie, would become friends with Mick because Mick "will want Alfie's help as the ex-landlord. Alfie does help him out and there is a friendship happening there." In June 2014, Mick develops a friendship with

Ian Beale Ian Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Adam Woodyatt. He is the drama's longest-serving main character and, following the departure of Pauline Fowler ( Wendy Richard) in 2006, became the only one ...

(

Adam Woodyatt Adam Brinley Woodyatt (born 28 June 1968) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Ian Beale in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', which he played between 1985 and 2022. Early life and education Woodyatt was born on 28 June 1968 in W ...

) as Mick is attempting to overcome his fear of water and learn to swim. It was reported that this would "help a grieving Ian just as much as Mick." It was then reported that Mick would be arrested when he helps Ian track down

Rainie Cross Rainie Highway (also Cross and Branning) is a fictional character from the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Tanya Franks. Introduced as the drug-addicted sister of Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner), Franks has had three separate guest stin ...

(

Tanya Franks Tanya Christine Franks (born 16 August 1967) is an English actress, producer and writer. She has had starring roles on the television shows ''Family Affairs'', ''The Bill'', ''Pulling (TV series), Pulling'', ''EastEnders'' and ''Broadchurch''. ...

), a prostitute that Ian had sex with on the night his daughter

Lucy Beale Lucy Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. The character was played by Eva Brittin-Snell (from 1993 to 1996), Casey Anne Rothery (from 1996 until 2004), Melissa Suffield (from 2004 to 2010), and Hetti Bywater ...

(

Hetti Bywater Harriet Jessica Phoebe “Hetti” Bywater (born 10 September 1994) is an English former actress. She is best known for portraying Lucy Beale in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', taking over the role from Melissa Suffield in January 2012 until ...

) was murdered. A show source said, "Mick has no idea what he's getting into when he agrees to help Ian. We all know that Mick is one of the good guys and would never try to pick up a prostitute. He'll be praying that Linda trusts him enough to believe he's innocent." The episodes where Mick takes part in a charity swim and is arrested for kerb-crawling were originally broadcast from 4 to 8 August 2014. A promotional trailer for the episodes was released on 30 July.

Temporary departures

On 17 February 2017, it was announced that Dyer would be taking an "extended hiatus" from the show. Tabloid reports claimed Dyer had been "enforced to take a break" in order to "sort his life out" after reports that he was drunk at a National Television Awards afterparty. A BBC spokesperson confirmed Dyer is on a "short break" from the show and denied claims that he was suspended and said the break was "not enforced by bosses, nor has

yer A yer is either of two letters in Cyrillic alphabets, ъ (ѥръ, ''jerŭ'') and ь (ѥрь, ''jerĭ''). The Glagolitic alphabet used, as respective counterparts, the letters (Ⱏ) and (Ⱐ). They originally represented phonemically the "ult ...

quit the show", while

Digital Spy Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...

confirmed that Dyer did not attend the NTAs afterparty. Dyer departed onscreen on 23 March 2017 and Mick reappeared from 18 May 2017. In September 2017, it was announced that Dyer's contract had been renewed for at least another two years, which secures Mick to continue appearing on the show until 2019. Dyer took another break from the soap in 2018 and Mick left the serial on 5 October 2018 while he was in prison off-screen. He returned on 17 December 2018 after he was released. Dyer took a short break from the soap on 21 September 2021 as part of Linda's temporary exit storyline. He returned on 2 November 2021.

Departure

On 8 January 2022, it was announced by an ''EastEnders'' spokesperson that Dyer was leaving. Speaking on his departure they said, "Danny will be leaving ''EastEnders'' when his contract comes to an end later this year. Danny has made Mick Carter an iconic character which we shall always be grateful for, however we won't be saying goodbye just yet as there's still quite some time - and plenty of explosive drama for Mick - to come before he departs Walford."

Other appearances

Mick appears in animated form, voiced by Dyer, in a '' Children in Need'' sketch called ''Tom and Jerry: A Fundraising Adventure'', broadcast during the 2014 telethon on 14 November 2014, along with Linda in The Queen Victoria. In the sketch, cartoon cat and mouse duo

Tom and Jerry ''Tom and Jerry'' is an American Animated cartoon, animated media franchise and series of comedy short films created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Best known for its 161 theatrical short films by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the series c ...

visit several animated versions of BBC stars, tasked by

Terry Wogan Sir Michael Terence Wogan (; 3 August 1938 – 31 January 2016) was an Irish radio and television broadcaster who worked for the BBC in the UK for most of his career. Between 1993 and his semi-retirement in December 2009, his BBC Radio 2 weekd ...

to raise cash.

Reception

Announcement

When Dyer's casting in the series was announced, Daniel Kilkelly from entertainment website

Digital Spy Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...

expected reactions to be mixed, as comments made by the website's readers about Dyer in the past have included both praise and derision, and felt the announcement would spark debate. Kilkelly felt positive about the casting, saying: "Dyer has a strong screen presence which is going to be crucial when it comes to taking over such an important role in ''EastEnders''. Recent new characters to join the show have seemed to stay on the sidelines with no clear direction, while the plan for Mick is for him to join the Square and take on his new job straight away. Dyer should definitely be up to the task of hitting the ground running." He was relieved that Dyer would not be playing another hardman character, saying that "it should be interesting to see how he rises to the challenge." However, he opined that casting a well-known actor who divides opinions could be a risk, as fans of the show may see Dyer, rather than his character, moving into the show, and hoped that the actor's profile would not lead to him leaving the series after only a short stint. Alex Fletcher from the site said, "Danny Dyer. In ''EastEnders''. The two things together still don't quite seem believable, but it really is happening", and predicted he would be "awesome". Vicky Prior from the ''

Metro Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to: Geography * Metro (city), a city in Indonesia * A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center Public transport * Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urba ...

'' said she was "thrilled" that Shirley's family was being extended, but wondered why Mick had not been mentioned before. She said the role of a "bloke's bloke with a soft heart" was unusual for Dyer, who normally plays gangster roles, and sounds similar to previous Queen Victoria landlord

Alfie Moon Alfie Moon is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Shane Richie. He made his first appearance on 21 November 2002, and left on 25 December 2005. He returned to ''EastEnders'' on 21 September 2010, following th ...

, played by

Shane Richie Shane Patrick Paul Roche (born 11 March 1964), known as Shane Richie, is a British actor, comedian, television presenter and singer. Following initial success as a stage and screen performer, he became best known for his portrayal of the charac ...

. Prior wondered if Dyer would fit into the show, as Mick's partner Linda sounds "a little dull", and Dyer is known for bad films. However, she concluded that Dyer's casting was "a coup" for ''EastEnders'', and he could become "the saviour of the soap", though opined that "It's likely that ''EastEnders'' will prove to be the saviour of

Danny Dyer Danial John Dyer (born 24 July 1977) is an English actor and presenter. Dyer's breakthrough role was as Moff in ''Human Traffic'', with other notable roles as Mick Carter in EastEnders, Billy the Limpet in '' Mean Machine'' and as Tommy Johns ...

's career." Simon Swift from the ''Metro'' thought Dyer was an "interesting" signing, saying he should be "a welcome addition" because of the number of "strong female characters", but added "so long as they veer more towards

Dirty Den Dennis "Den" Watts is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', played by actor Leslie Grantham. He became well known for his tabloid nickname, "Dirty Den". Den was the original landlord of The Queen Victoria public house ...

's landlord rather than, say,

Alfie Moon Alfie Moon is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Shane Richie. He made his first appearance on 21 November 2002, and left on 25 December 2005. He returned to ''EastEnders'' on 21 September 2010, following th ...

's." Ellen E Jones from ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'' thought Dyer in ''EastEnders'' seemed "inevitable" and called him "the cockney messiah

ho has Ho (or the transliterations He or Heo) may refer to: People Language and ethnicity * Ho people, an ethnic group of India ** Ho language, a tribal language in India * Hani people, or Ho people, an ethnic group in China, Laos and Vietnam * Hiri Mo ...

come to save ''EastEnders''". She said that Dyer walks the "thin line between national treasure and national laughing stock", so ''EastEnders''—"which works best when it's an overblown cockney pantomime"—would be Dyer's "natural home". Kevin O'Sullivan from the ''

Daily Mirror The ''Daily Mirror'' is a British national daily tabloid. Founded in 1903, it is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the title on its masthead was simply ''The Mirror''. It had an average daily print ...

'' said that it would take more than hiring Dyer to "stop the rot", as fans were getting "fed up" of watching the show. Katy Brent from the ''Daily Mirror'' said: "I'm kind of intrigued to see what

Danny Dyer Danial John Dyer (born 24 July 1977) is an English actor and presenter. Dyer's breakthrough role was as Moff in ''Human Traffic'', with other notable roles as Mick Carter in EastEnders, Billy the Limpet in '' Mean Machine'' and as Tommy Johns ...

is going to bring to the table, or bar in his case, but I think it's going to take me a little while to be convinced by him. No offence Dan, I'm sure you'll be great, but I'm a little sceptical when 'names' are brought in." Olivia Cooke from ''

Heat In thermodynamics, heat is defined as the form of energy crossing the boundary of a thermodynamic system by virtue of a temperature difference across the boundary. A thermodynamic system does not ''contain'' heat. Nevertheless, the term is al ...

'' said "

Danny Dyer Danial John Dyer (born 24 July 1977) is an English actor and presenter. Dyer's breakthrough role was as Moff in ''Human Traffic'', with other notable roles as Mick Carter in EastEnders, Billy the Limpet in '' Mean Machine'' and as Tommy Johns ...

being a cast member of ''EastEnders'' seems like such an obvious thing we can hardly believe it's taken until now for it to happen." ''

Inside Soap ''Inside Soap'' is a weekly magazine published in the United Kingdom, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas in the United Kingdom, including '' Coronation Street'', ''Doctors'', ''EastEnders'', ''Emmerdal ...

'' noted that Christmas in ''EastEnders'' is "always an explosive time", so the Carters' arrival was "perfectly timed", and said it would be "a welcome gift for Shirley and Tina", going on to say, "We can't wait for this new era in the Vic to kick off!" ''

All About Soap ''All About Soap'' was a fortnightly UK magazine founded in October 1999. It was released on Tuesdays. Storylines of the shows it covers are from soap operas shown in the United Kingdom and from Australia, including '' EastEnders'', '' Coron ...

'' said they were "very excited" that Shirley's family were being introduced and taking over The Queen Victoria. ''Inside Soap'' Kate White said she "can't wait to see the impant the Carters have on their new manor, as well as seeing Danny in action behind that bar." Rosie Gizauskas from ''

Now Now most commonly refers to the present time. Now, NOW, or The Now may also refer to: Organizations * Natal Organisation of Women, a South African women's organization * National Organization for Women, an American feminist organization * Now ...

'' said Dyer's casting was "the best idea ever", adding, "this will totally work. I literally can't wait to see original East End geezer Danny in ..his spiritual home. ..This was meant to be." Yahoo! TV UK said that Dyer joining ''EastEnders'' would be "interesting" because he "tends to divide viewers into those who think he's a ridiculous posturing fool and those who think he's a ridiculous posturing fool who can also act." Ben Dowell from the ''

Radio Times ''Radio Times'' (currently styled as ''RadioTimes'') is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in May 1923 by J ...

'' thought the description of Mick sounded like comedian

Al Murray Alastair James Hay Murray (born 10 May 1968) is an English comedian, actor, musician and writer from Hammersmith. In 2003, he was listed in ''The Observer'' as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy, and in 2007 he was voted the 16th gr ...

's

Pub Landlord A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, land, or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant (also a ''lessee'' or ''renter''). When a juristic person is in this position, th ...

character. Former ''EastEnders'' cast member

Scott Maslen Scott Alexander Maslen (born 25 June 1971) is an English actor and model, best known for his portrayal as DS Phil Hunter in ITV's ''The Bill'' and Jack Branning on the BBC's flagship soap ''EastEnders'' since 2007. He also took part in the 2010 ...

, who played

Jack Branning Jack Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Scott Maslen. He made his first appearance on 29 October 2007. He is the youngest child of Jim (John Bardon) and Reenie Branning (Joy Graham) and the brother ...

, said of Dyer's casting in the show: "He will go there, give a bit of banter and he will embrace it, but it'll be a challenge for him. I think he is a good fit for the character and he would do really well in it." On the day of the character's announcement, bookmaker

Coral Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and sec ...

offered odds of 16–1 that Mick would be killed off within a year, and 3–1 that he would still be in the show by the end of 2014. The bookmaker also expected ''EastEnders'' to win the Christmas 2013 ratings battle against rival soaps ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford. Origi ...

'' and ''

Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British soap opera that is broadcast on ITV1. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, '' ...

'', with spokeswoman Nicola McGeady saying, "The battle of the soaps is heating up, and with new faces joining ''EastEnders'', the odds suggest that the East End drama will win the ratings war this Christmas." William Hill also started taking bets on who would be the first character that Mick would eject from the pub, with

Carl White Carl White is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Daniel Coonan. He first appears in the 4660th episode, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 20 June 2013. Carl is the ex-boyfriend of Kirsty Brannin ...

(

Daniel Coonan Daniel Coonan is a British actor. Early life Coonan was brought up in Haringey, in north London, moving to Plymouth, Devon in his teens, where he took up acting lessons. He trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Career Afte ...

) the favourite with odds of 5–1,

David Wicks David Wicks is a fictional character from the BBC TV soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Michael French. David originally appeared from 23 December 1993 to 21 November 1996. He returned to the show on 1 January 2012 and departed two weeks later ...

(

Michael French Michael French (born Michael Clark, 17 September 1962) is an English actor, known for his roles as David Wicks in ''EastEnders''; Nick Jordan, a consultant and Clinical Lead, Senior Consultant in emergency medicine in ''Casualty'' and former ca ...

) and

Max Branning Max Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Jake Wood. He made his first appearance on 27 June 2006. Wood took a four-month break from the show in 2011 and the character was absent between August and Nov ...

(

Jake Wood Jake Dylan Wood (born 12 July 1972) is an English actor and podcaster, known for his role as Max Branning in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. He has also made guest appearances in series including ''Only Fools and Horses'' and ''Red Dwarf''. ...

) on 6–1,

Phil Mitchell Phil Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Steve McFadden. He was introduced to the soap opera on 20 February 1990 and was followed by his brother Grant Mitchell (EastEnders), Grant (Ross Kemp), s ...

(

Steve McFadden Steve Robert McFadden (né Reid; born 20 March 1959) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Phil Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders'', which he has played since 1990. He was also the presenter of the game show, ''Britain's ...

) on 12–1, and

Masood Ahmed Masood Ahmed is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Nitin Ganatra. The character made his first appearance in episode 3452, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on 16 October 2007. Masood was introduced as p ...

(

Nitin Ganatra Nitin Chandra Ganatra (born 30 June 1967) is a Kenyan-born British actor. He is known for portraying Masood Ahmed in the BBC soap opera, ''EastEnders''. Early and personal life Ganatra was born on 30 June 1967 in Kenya. Both sides of Ganatra's ...

) the outsider at 40–1. As the public heard of Dyer's casting, his name began trending on Twitter. Mark James Lowe from ''All About Soap'' said that the casting had created an "amazing buzz" about ''EastEnders'', and that the introduction of the Carters was one of many "great changes" to the show being made by Treadwell-Collins, saying that ''EastEnders'' was "finally becoming a show to look forward to watching again." The '' Daily Star'' published tweets from fans who said Dyer would "single-handedly turn ''EastEnders'' around" and hoped he could appear in the show sooner. Website EntertainmentWise ran a poll to ask readers for their opinions on Dyer's casting: 63.49% of people who answered said they were excited. A similar Digital Spy poll showed that 70.5% of respondents were looking forward to Dyer appearing in the show, while the other 29.5% did not think he would fit in. A ''Heat'' poll showed that 59% of those who took part thought Dyer could "save the show's flagging fortunes". The casting received further praise from fans on Twitter when the first family photo was released. It was reported on 17 December 2013 that Dyer's casting in ''EastEnders'' had helped the show become "the most searched for television show of 2013" on Google. Dyer's casting was criticised by domestic violence charities because, in 2010, he was quoted in ''

Zoo A zoo (short for zoological garden; also called an animal park or menagerie) is a facility in which animals are kept within enclosures for public exhibition and often bred for Conservation biology, conservation purposes. The term ''zoological g ...

'', for which he was an agony uncle, as advising someone to "cut your ex's face, and then no-one will want her." One volunteer said, "This man's arrival will horrify many female fans", while family campaigner Dr Adrian Rogers said, "This sends out completely the wrong message to viewers. Domestic violence is a major problem and the cause of pain and misery for many families. This man has spouted questionable opinions and gets rewarded." Dyer apologised at the time and took responsibility for saying "something stupid", and an ''EastEnders'' spokesperson responded to the criticism by saying, "Danny has stated many times that the comments previously published are not his views."

Arrival and storylines

Victoria Garo-Falides from the ''Daily Mirror'' described Dyer's scenes as Mick in his first episode as "180 seconds of smarm-filled, smooth talking", and expected him to have more screen time considering the anticipation of his arrival, adding that he failed to "leave much of an impression in his squint-and-you'll-miss-him appearance". Caroline Westbrook from the ''Metro'' said that although Mick's appearance in his first episode was "fleeting", he had "proven a popular addition to the ''EastEnders'' cast." Viewers reactions to Mick's first episode were mixed, with Dyer's name trending on Twitter for more than 12 hours. Ian Hyland from the ''Daily Mirror'' said that hiring Dyer was an "almighty gamble" but he was a "revelation". The scenes in which Johnny comes out as gay to Mick in the 3 January 2014 episode were widely praised by viewers on Twitter. Jane Simon of the ''Daily Mirror'' said Dyer's performance was "absolutely superb" and anticipated that he would receive awards for it. David Brown from ''Radio Times'' called the scenes "tender and poignant" and praised the character, saying, "News that he wants to do a stretch as long as

Adam Woodyatt Adam Brinley Woodyatt (born 28 June 1968) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Ian Beale in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', which he played between 1985 and 2022. Early life and education Woodyatt was born on 28 June 1968 in W ...

's is very welcome." Hyland said that June 2014 scenes featuring Mick and Ian at the swimming pool were "nicely done".

Awards and nominations

Since Mick's arrival in ''EastEnders'', Dyer has received a number of award nominations for the role, and has so far won three. At the British Soap Awards 2014, Dyer was longlisted in the public-voted categories for "Sexiest Male" and "Best Actor". He was shortlisted for both awards, and also received panel-voted nominations in the categories for "Spectacular Scene of the Year", for the scene in which Johnny comes out to Mick, and "Best On-screen Partnership", for Mick's relationship with Linda. All four awards were won by other soaps operas. Also in 2014, he was nominated and shortlisted for the best soap actor award at the

TV Choice Awards ''TV Choice'' is a British weekly TV listings magazine published by H. Bauer Publishing, the UK subsidiary of family-run German company Bauer Media Group.''Inside Soap'' Awards, which are also voted for by the public. Dyer said he could not understand being nominated for sexiest male, as he is "too fat and old", and opined, "Maybe it's the character people find sexy, because the kids I'm up against are like flipping athletes." In 2015, Dyer won the award for best serial drama performance at the

National Television Awards The National Television Awards (often shortened to NTAs) is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted ...

, beating his on-screen wife, Kellie Bright. He was then the winner of the

Television and Radio Industries Club The Television and Radio Industries Club (widely known as TRIC) is a British institution chartered in 1931 to "promote goodwill in the television and radio industries". The Club holds an annual awards ceremony each March honouring achievement in te ...

award for soap personality, and was shortlisted for the best actor award at the British Soap Awards 2015, losing to his co-star,

Adam Woodyatt Adam Brinley Woodyatt (born 28 June 1968) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Ian Beale in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', which he played between 1985 and 2022. Early life and education Woodyatt was born on 28 June 1968 in W ...

(

Ian Beale Ian Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Adam Woodyatt. He is the drama's longest-serving main character and, following the departure of Pauline Fowler ( Wendy Richard) in 2006, became the only one ...

). In May 2015, Dyer was once again nominated and shortlisted for the "Best Soap Actor" award at the

TV Choice Awards ''TV Choice'' is a British weekly TV listings magazine published by H. Bauer Publishing, the UK subsidiary of family-run German company Bauer Media Group. In July 2015, Dyer made the ''Inside Soap'' Awards longlist, again, in the "Best Actor" and "Sexiest Male" categories. In August 2017, Dyer was longlisted for Best Actor and Funniest Male at the ''Inside Soap'' Awards, while he and Bright were longlisted for Best Partnership and the showdown between Mick and Linda were longlisted for Best Show-Stopper. Dyer made the shortlist for the Best Actor accolade, but lost out to Danny Miller, who portrays Aaron Dingle in ''

Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British soap opera that is broadcast on ITV1. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, '' ...

''. Dyer was nominated for Best Soap Actor (Male) at the 2018 ''

Digital Spy Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...

'' Reader Awards; he came in seventh place with 6.4% of the total votes. Mick's pairing with Linda came second in the "Best Soap Couple" category with 10.6% of the total votes, while Stuart's shooting came ninth in the "Best Soap Storyline" category with 4.3% of the total votes, and the "heist saga" where Mick is shot came sixth in the "Most Bizarre Soap Storyline" category with 8% of the total votes. In 2019, Dyer received his fifth

National Television Awards The National Television Awards (often shortened to NTAs) is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted ...

nomination in the Serial Drama Performance category for his portrayal of Mick.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Carter, Mick Television characters introduced in 2013 Fictional bartenders Fictional characters based on real people Male characters in television Carter family (EastEnders) Fictional prisoners and detainees Fictional teenage parents Fictional characters with neurological or psychological disorders Fictional victims of child sexual abuse

Storylines

Development

Casting and introduction

Characterisation and appearance

Family relationships

Other relationships and storylines

Temporary departures

Departure

Other appearances

Reception

Announcement

Arrival and storylines

Awards and nominations

See also

References

External links