Kellie Bright: EastEnders exit “was a very natural decision”

Kellie Bright has revealed that her decision to bow out as Linda Carter on EastEnders “took a long time”.

Last month Bright announced that she will be departing the soap after 13 years this festive period as part of a storyline that will also see Charlie Suff leave as Linda’s son Johnny Carter.

The exit plot will also see Linda’s other two children, Lee (Danny Hatchard) and Nancy (Maddy Hill), make temporary comebacks to coincide with Linda’s exit.

Talking to the Radio Times, Bright said: “ It was a very natural decision, is what I would say. It took a long time. It wasn’t a decision I made overnight.

“I’m very, very grateful to have been part of the show for as long as I have. I feel really blessed to have been able to play Linda Carter for all these years, and I am just ready and looking forward to new exciting adventures.”

Bright will film her final scenes in the coming months and her on-screen departure is expected to play out in the New Year.