EastEnders fans have been left emotional after Kellie Bright addressed her upcoming departure from Albert Square.

The actress has played fan favourite Linda Carter for more than a decade, but it was revealed last month that she is preparing to say goodbye to the BBC soap after 13 years.

Now Kellie has spoken directly to viewers following the announcement, sharing a video message on Instagram to thank fans for all the support she has received.

Referring to Linda’s famous love of flamingos, Kellie joked: ‘Shall we talk about the elephant in the room? Or should I say, flamingo?’

She continued: ‘I just wanted to do a little thank you message to everyone that sent some love to Linda’s way when you heard about the announcement of me leaving.

‘It really means so much and I just wanted to acknowledge it and say thank you for your lovely comments and messages.’

Signing off with a fitting nod to her much-loved character, Kellie added: ‘Linda hearts you back. Flamingos forever.’

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Unsurprisingly, fans were quick to share just how much they are going to miss seeing Kellie in Walford.

One emotional viewer said the actress would be ‘so so SO MISSED’, adding that Albert Square ‘won’t be the same’ without its ‘flamingo-loving queen of Walford’.

Kellie’s on-screen mum Harriet Thorpe, who plays Elaine Peacock, also had a touching message for her TV daughter.

She wrote: ‘Flamingos and peacocks forever. Love you, daughter.’

Former co-star Lacey Turner, best known to viewers as Stacey Slater, joined in with the flamingo theme too, commenting: ‘Forever flamingoing.’

Kellie’s exit will mark the end of a huge chapter for EastEnders.

She first arrived in Albert Square as Linda in 2013 alongside Danny Dyer, who played her on-screen husband Mick Carter.

The pair quickly became a major part of the soap after the Carter family took over the Queen Vic, with Linda going on to find herself at the centre of some of the show’s biggest storylines.

Danny eventually left EastEnders three years ago, but Kellie remained in Walford as Linda’s story continued without Mick.

Now her own departure is approaching, and there could be some emotional Carter family scenes on the way before she goes.

EastEnders has revealed that Danny Hatchard and Maddy Hill will return as Linda’s eldest children, Lee and Nancy Carter, in the build-up to her exit.

Their comeback means viewers will get to see more of the Carter family together as Linda’s final chapter unfolds.

And Kellie isn’t the only familiar face preparing to leave Walford.

Michelle Ryan, who plays Zoe Slater, Aaron Thiara, who plays Ravi Gulati, Charlie Suff, who plays Linda’s son Johnny Carter, and Pierre Counihan-Moullier, who plays Oscar Branning, are also set to depart.

It means viewers could be in for plenty of emotional goodbyes in the coming months as the soap prepares for some major cast changes.

But Linda’s departure is likely to hit particularly hard for long-time fans.

After 13 years of drama, heartbreak and memorable moments, Linda has become one of EastEnders’ most recognisable modern characters.

Exactly how she will say goodbye to Albert Square remains to be seen, but with Lee and Nancy heading back to Walford and Kellie now speaking out about her departure, anticipation around Linda’s final chapter is only growing.

And judging by the reaction to Kellie’s message, fans certainly aren’t ready to say goodbye to their flamingo-loving Queen of Walford just yet.


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