EastEnders Icon's Fate Sealed: Dean Wicks Behind Bars

EastEnders fans are fervently hoping for the return of the formidable Shirley Carter to the iconic Walford. But could the news of her son Dean's prison sentence spark a fire that brings the matriarch back to the Square, fuming and seeking answers?

Actor Matt Di Angelo recently bid farewell to the BBC One soap, with breakout news that his character, Dean Wicks, has been handed a substantial nine-year prison sentence after admitting to the grave crime of raping Linda Carter. Initially entangled in a web of deceit, Dean was unjustly framed for the murder of Keanu Taylor as his shady associates scrambled to keep their secrets hidden.

The Queen Vic landlady, brilliantly portrayed by Kellie Bright, received the heart-wrenching news about Dean's fate on September 9, 2024, from the police. While this shocking revelation sparked joy for her mother, Elaine Peacock (played by the talented Harriet Thorpe), Linda had her own revealing moment. She confessed to being responsible for Keanu's death, turning the plot on its head.

With Dean now behind bars, speculations arise that EastEnders may be poised to bring back his no-nonsense mother, Shirley, for an explosive confrontation with Linda. Imagine the tension as the tough-as-nails Walford figure confronts her former daughter-in-law to demand the truth!

Shirley Carter, captivatingly portrayed by Linda Henry since her first appearance on the show, has not graced Walford with her presence since late 2022. This exit followed the heartbreaking storyline involving her son Mick's presumed death at sea, adding another layer of anguish to her already tumultuous life, which included the murder of her sister Tina Carter among numerous other trials and tribulations.

Shirley bid an emotional farewell to her friend Jean Slater before disappearing to reconnect with her estranged children, Carly and Dean, off-screen. There was buzz around her potential return, yet it seems less than two years after her departure